plural cilia
ˈsi-lē-ə 
1
: a minute short hairlike process often forming part of a fringe
especially
: one on a cell that is capable of lashing movement and serves especially in free unicellular organisms to produce locomotion or in higher forms a current of fluid
2
: eyelash
Examples of cilium in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
One tiny flick of a microscopic cellular hair, known as a cilium, can’t do much on its own.
—
Saugat Bolakhe, Scientific American, 11 July 2022
Once the voltage is reversed, the oxygen is driven out of the platinum—and the cilium returns to its original shape.
—Saugat Bolakhe, Scientific American, 11 July 2022
Mechanical interactions that began at the level of a single cilium, and then multiplied over millions of cells and extended to higher levels of structure, fully explained the coordinated locomotion of the entire animal.
—Quanta Magazine, 16 Mar. 2022
Cilia are found throughout our bodies, but only a small number of kinds of cells have more than one cilium apiece.
—Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 30 Dec. 2019
When those cilia become paralyzed, they are rendered unable to do their job protecting the lungs, and this increases your risk of infection, like pneumonia.
—Maggie O'Neill, Health.com, 12 Sep. 2019
Among their design concerns were methods for nurturing cilium and for recycling sweat.
—Guy Trebay, New York Times, 26 Sep. 2017
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Saugat Bolakhe, Scientific American, 11 July 2022
Once the voltage is reversed, the oxygen is driven out of the platinum—and the cilium returns to its original shape.
—Saugat Bolakhe, Scientific American, 11 July 2022
Mechanical interactions that began at the level of a single cilium, and then multiplied over millions of cells and extended to higher levels of structure, fully explained the coordinated locomotion of the entire animal.
—Quanta Magazine, 16 Mar. 2022
Cilia are found throughout our bodies, but only a small number of kinds of cells have more than one cilium apiece.
—Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 30 Dec. 2019
When those cilia become paralyzed, they are rendered unable to do their job protecting the lungs, and this increases your risk of infection, like pneumonia.
—Maggie O'Neill, Health.com, 12 Sep. 2019
Among their design concerns were methods for nurturing cilium and for recycling sweat.
—Guy Trebay, New York Times, 26 Sep. 2017
Dictionary Entries Near cilium
Cite this Entry
“Cilium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cilium. Accessed 17 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Medical Definition
cilium
noun
cil·i·um
ˈsil-ē-əm
plural cilia
-ē-ə
1
: eyelash
2
: a minute, short, hairlike process that projects from the surface of most eukaryotic cells, is composed chiefly of microtubules, in unicellular organisms functions chiefly in locomotion, and in higher forms serves especially in the movement of fluids and particles (as the passage of mucus and dust from the lungs) and in sensory reception see ciliopathy
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