paramecium

From Ancient Greek παραμήκης (paramḗkēs, “oval”), from μῆκος (mêkos, “length”).

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌpæ.ɹəˈmiː.si.əm/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˌpɛ.ɹəˈmi.si.əm/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: par‧a‧me‧ci‧um

paramecium (plural paramecia or parameciums)

1. An oval-shaped protozoan organism of the genus Paramecium.
   • 1983, Robert Drewe, The Bodysurfers, Penguin 2009, page 144:

     The sun beats on his eyelids; inside them a paramecium revolves. A blink and it changes pattern like a kaleidoscope.

   • 1997, Don DeLillo, Underworld‎, 2003 edition, →ISBN, page 560:

     Edgar noticed that Clyde was wearing a necktie with a driblet design. The little figures made him think of paramecia, sinister organisms with gullets and feeding grooves.

• slipper animalcule

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /pa.raˈme.ki.um/, [päräˈmɛkiʊ̃ˑ]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /pa.raˈme.t͡ʃi.um/, [päräˈmɛːt͡ʃium]

paramecium n (genitive parameciī); second declension

1. paramecium

Second-declension noun (neuter).