prokaryote

[proh-kar-ee-oht, -ee-uh t] /proʊˈkær iˌoʊt, -i ət/
noun
1.
any cellular organism that has no nuclear membrane, no organelles in the cytoplasm except ribosomes, and has its genetic material in the form of single continuous strands forming coils or loops, characteristic of all organisms in the kingdom Monera, as the bacteria and blue-green algae.
Also, procaryote.
Compare eukaryote.
Origin
taken as singular of Neo-Latin Prokaryota, earlier Procaryotes (1925); see pro-1, eukaryote
Related forms
prokaryotic
[proh-kar-ee-ot-ik] /proʊˌkær iˈɒt ɪk/ (Show IPA), adjective
Examples from the web for prokaryotes
  • We all know that eukaryotes are bigger than prokaryotes.
  • In prokaryotes, glycolysis is the only method used for converting energy.
British Dictionary definitions for prokaryotes

prokaryote

/prəʊˈkærɪɒt/
noun
1.
any organism having cells in each of which the genetic material is in a single DNA chain, not enclosed in a nucleus. Bacteria and archaeans are prokaryotes Compare eukaryote
Derived Forms
prokaryotic, procaryotic (prəʊˌkærɪˈɒtɪk) adjective
Word Origin
from pro-² + karyo- + -ote as in zygote
Word Origin and History for prokaryotes

prokaryote

n.

1963, from French procaryote (1925), from Greek pro- (see pro-) + karyon "nut, kernel" (see karyo-).

prokaryotes in Medicine

prokaryote pro·kar·y·ote or pro·car·y·ote (prō-kār'ē-ōt')
n.
An organism of the kingdom Prokaryotae, constituting the bacteria and cyanobacteria, characterized by the absence of a nuclear membrane and by DNA that is not organized into chromosomes.

pro·kar'y·ot'ic (-ŏt'ĭk) adj.
prokaryotes in Science
prokaryote
  (prō-kār'ē-ōt')   
Any of a wide variety of one-celled organisms of the kingdom Monera (or Prokaryota) that are the most primitive and ancient known forms of life. Prokaryotes lack a distinct cell nucleus and their DNA is not organized into chromosomes. They also lack the internal structures bound by membranes called organelles, such as mitochondria. At the molecular level, prokaryotes differ from eukaryotes in the structure of their lipids and of certain metabolic enzymes, and in how genes are expressed for protein synthesis. Prokaryotes reproduce asexually and include the bacteria and blue-green algae. Also called moneran. Compare eukaryote. See Table at taxonomy.
prokaryotes in Culture
prokaryotes [(proh-kar-ee-oht)]

Organisms whose cells do not have a nucleus in which DNA is housed and which lack many of the organelles found in more advanced cells. The kingdom of Monera or Prokaryotae is composed of single-celled prokaryotes. (Compare eukaryotes.)

Note: It is thought that prokaryotes were the first cells to appear on Earth.