peridinium

noun

peri·​din·​i·​um
ˌperəˈdinēəm
1
capitalized : the type genus of Peridiniidae comprising marine and freshwater dinoflagellates that are typically subspherical to ovoid in outline and that sometimes have the test prolonged into short horns compare ceratium
2
plural peridiniums
-ēəmz
or peridinia
-ēə
: any flagellate of the genus Peridinium

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin, borrowed from Greek peridīn-, base of peridīneîn "to whirl, spin around" (from peri- peri- + dīneîn "to whirl, spin about") + New Latin -ium -ium

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Cite this Entry

“Peridinium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/peridinium. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

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