cilium

[sil-ee-uh m] /ˈsɪl i əm/

noun

singular of cilia.

Origin

< Latin

cilia

[sil-ee-uh] /ˈsɪl i ə/

plural noun, singular cilium

[sil-ee-uh m] /ˈsɪl i əm/ (Show IPA)

Biology. minute hairlike organelles, identical in structure to flagella, that line the surfaces of certain cells and beat in rhythmic waves, providing locomotion to ciliate protozoans and moving liquids along internal epithelial tissue in animals.

Anatomy. the eyelashes.

Origin

1705-15; New Latin, plural of cilium eyelash, Latin: upper eyelid, perhaps a back formation from supercilium eyebrow; see supercilium

British Dictionary definitions for cilium

cilium

/ˈsɪlɪəm/

noun (pl) cilia (ˈsɪlɪə)

any of the short thread-like projections on the surface of a cell, organism, etc, whose rhythmic beating causes movement of the organism or of the surrounding fluid

the technical name for eyelash

Word Origin

C18: New Latin, from Latin: (lower) eyelid, eyelash

cilia

/ˈsɪlɪə/

noun

the plural of cilium

Word Origin and History for cilium

cilia

1715, from Latin cilia, plural of cilium "eyelid, eyelash," perhaps related to celare "to cover, hide," from PIE root *kel- "to conceal" (see cell), but words for this part of the face can be tricky (see brow). It sometimes is pluralized in English, which is an error. Related: Ciliated; ciliary; ciliate.

cilium in Medicine

cilium cil·i·um (sĭl'ē-əm)
n. pl. cil·i·a (-ē-ə)

See eyelash.
A microscopic hairlike process extending from the surface of a cell or unicellular organism, capable of rhythmical motion, and acting with other such structures to cause the movement of the cell or of the surrounding medium.

cilium in Science

cilium

(sĭl'ē-əm)
Plural cilia
A tiny hairlike projection on the surface of some cells and microscopic organisms, especially protozoans. Cilia are capable of whipping motions and are used by some microorganisms, such as paramecia, for movement. Cilia lining the human respiratory tract act to remove foreign matter from air before it reaches the lungs.