archaeocyte
|ar-chae-o-cyte|
🇺🇸
/ˌɑrkiˈoʊsaɪt/
🇬🇧
/ˌɑːkiəʊˈsaɪt/
undifferentiated (primitive) sponge cell
Etymology
'archaeocyte' originates from Greek, specifically the words 'arkhaios' and 'kytos', where 'arkhaios' meant 'ancient, original' and 'kytos' meant 'container, cell'.
'archaeocyte' was formed in New Latin/modern scientific coinage from Greek roots (Greek 'arkhaios' + 'kytos') and entered English as a technical biological term referring to a primitive/undifferentiated cell.
Initially the roots together literally conveyed the sense 'ancient/original cell', but over time the compound has come to denote a specific undifferentiated amoeboid cell type in sponges with regenerative and differentiative roles.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a type of undifferentiated, amoeboid cell found in sponges (Porifera) that can differentiate into other specialized cell types and is involved in regeneration, digestion, and reproduction.
An archaeocyte can differentiate into choanocytes or other cell types during sponge regeneration.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/04 02:32