miracidium

noun

mi·​ra·​cid·​i·​um ˌmir-ə-ˈsi-dē-əm 

ˌmī-rə-

plural miracidia ˌmir-ə-ˈsi-dē-ə 

ˌmī-rə-

: the free-swimming ciliated first larva of a digenetic trematode that seeks out and penetrates a suitable snail intermediate host in which it develops into a sporocyst

miracidial

ˌmir-ə-ˈsi-dē-əl 

ˌmī-rə-

adjective

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek meirak-, meirax youth, stripling + New Latin -idium

First Known Use

1898, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

miracidium

noun

mi·​ra·​cid·​i·​um ˌmir-ə-ˈsid-ē-əm  ˌmī-rə- 

plural miracidia -ē-ə 

: the free-swimming ciliated first larva of a digenetic trematode that seeks out and penetrates a suitable snail intermediate host in which it develops into a sporocyst

miracidial

-ē-əl 

adjective