vorticella noun. [vɔ:tɪ'sɛlǝ] Pl. -llae [-li]. L18.
[mod. Latin, dim. of Latin vortic-, VORTEX: see -ELLA.]
Zoology. A sessile protozoan of the genus Vorticella, which has a long contractile stalk and a ciliated body shaped like an inverted bell. Also called bell-animal, bell-animalcule.

■ vorticellid noun a protozoan of the family Vorticellidae, which comprises Vorticella and related genera M19.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲