monad

noun

mo·​nad ˈmō-ˌnad 

1

a

: unit, one

b

: atom sense 3

c

: an elementary individual substance which reflects the order of the world and from which material properties are derived

2

: a flagellated protozoan (as of the genus Monas)

monadic

mō-ˈna-dik 

mə-

adjective

monadism

ˈmō-ˌna-ˌdi-zəm 

noun

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin monad-, monas, from Greek, from monos

First Known Use

1615, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Medical Definition

monad

noun

mo·​nad ˈmō-ˌnad 

1

: a flagellated protozoan (as of the genus Monas)

2

: a monovalent element or radical

3

: any of the four chromatids that make up a tetrad in meiosis