infusoria)
|in-fu-so-ri-a|
🇺🇸
/ˌɪn.fjuːˈzɔr.i.ə/
🇬🇧
/ˌɪn.fjʊˈzɔːr.i.ə/
(infusoria)
tiny organisms found in infusions
Etymology
'infusoria' originates from New Latin, specifically the word 'infusorium', where the element 'infus-' (from Latin 'infundere') meant 'poured in' or 'to pour in'.
'infusoria' changed from the Modern/New Latin term 'infusorium' (used for organisms found in infusions) and entered 19th-century English scientific usage; over time more precise taxonomic terms (e.g., 'protozoa') replaced it.
Initially, it referred to organisms found in infusions of decaying matter; over time it became a general or obsolete term for certain microscopic aquatic organisms and is now largely historical or informal.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a collective term (historical/obsolete in strict scientific use) for microscopic aquatic organisms observed in infusions of decaying organic matter — especially protozoa and ciliates.
The pond water under the microscope was full of infusoria.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/28 02:59