infusoria
|in-fu-so-ri-a|
🇺🇸
/ˌɪn.fjuˈsɔr.i.ə/
🇬🇧
/ˌɪn.fjuˈsɔːr.i.ə/
tiny organisms found in infusions
Etymology
'infusoria' originates from New Latin (modern scientific Latin), ultimately from Latin 'infusorium', where 'infus-' comes from 'infundere' meaning 'to pour into'.
'infusoria' came into English from New Latin/Latin 'infusorium' (used for organisms found in infusions) and was adopted in the 18th–19th centuries as the collective term 'infusoria'.
Initially it meant 'organisms found in infusions (of decaying matter)'; over time it narrowed and specialized to refer to protozoans (especially ciliates) and, in aquarium contexts, to microscopic live food for fish larvae.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a collective term for various microscopic aquatic organisms (especially protozoans such as ciliates) found in decaying organic infusions; historically used for microorganisms seen in infusions of decomposing matter.
The pond water was teeming with infusoria when viewed under the microscope.
Synonyms
Noun 2
small aquatic organisms cultured or occurring naturally and used as live food for fish larvae and very small aquarium fry.
Hatchery staff introduced infusoria to feed the newly hatched fry.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/11 21:25