How Do You Spell PARAMECIUM?

Pronunciation: [pˌaɹəmˈiːsi͡əm] (IPA)

Paramecium is a single-celled organism commonly found in freshwater environments. The spelling of this word can be explained using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) as /pærəˈmiːsiəm/. The "a" in the first syllable is pronounced as the "a" in "cat", while the second syllable begins with a schwa sound. The "e" in the third syllable is pronounced as the "ee" in "bee", and the "i" in the final syllable is pronounced as the "ee" in "tree". Hence, the correct spelling of this word is crucial for its proper pronunciation.

PARAMECIUM Meaning and Definition

  1. A paramecium is a unicellular, microscopic protist belonging to the phylum Ciliophora. It is characterized by a slipper-shaped body that is covered in cilia, tiny hair-like structures that enable movement. Paramecia are commonly found in freshwater environments such as ponds, lakes, and slow-moving rivers.

    The defining features of a paramecium include its oblong shape, with a slightly pointed anterior end and a rounded posterior end. These organisms exhibit symmetry along their longitudinal axis, which enables them to move fluidly through their environment. The cilia covering the cell's surface play a crucial role in locomotion, enabling the paramecium to propel itself and navigate through its surroundings.

    Inside the cell, a paramecium possesses several organelles responsible for crucial functions. These include two nuclei, a large macronucleus mainly involved in metabolism and gene expression, and a smaller micronucleus involved in reproduction. The cell also contains a food vacuole for digestion, contractile vacuoles for osmoregulation, and trichocysts for defense.

    Paramecia are considered heterotrophic microorganisms, meaning they feed on bacteria, single-celled algae, and other small organisms. They use their cilia to direct food towards their oral groove, which leads to a specialized mouth-like structure called the cytostome. From there, food particles are engulfed into food vacuoles, where they are broken down and nutrients are absorbed.

    Paramecia reproduce primarily through a form of asexual reproduction known as binary fission. During this process, the cell divides transversely, giving rise to two identical daughter cells. However, they also engage in sexual reproduction through a process called conjugation, where genetic material is exchanged between

  2. A genus of infusorians, the members of which are of rather elongated form and some of large size even visible to the naked eye.

    A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

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Etymology of PARAMECIUM

The word "paramecium" comes from the Greek combination of "para" meaning "beside" or "next to", and "mēkēs" meaning "long". The term was coined in 1752 by the French naturalist and microscopist Antoine van Leeuwenhoek, who observed and described these unicellular organisms. The name "paramecium" was given due to the organism's elongated shape, resembling a slipper or shoe.

Similar spelling word for PARAMECIUM

Plural form of PARAMECIUM is PARAMECIA

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