infusorial
|in-fu-sor-i-al|
/ˌɪn.fjuːˈzɔːr.i.əl/
relating to infusoria (microscopic water organisms)
Etymology
'infusorial' originates from New Latin, specifically the word 'infusorium', where the Latin root 'infūs-' (from 'infundere') meant 'poured in'.
'infusorium' (New Latin) was used for microscopic organisms found in liquid 'infusions'; English formed the adjective 'infusorial' from that New Latin term in the 19th century.
Initially, terms like 'infusorium' referred to organisms found in an 'infusion' (a liquid in which something had been soaked); over time 'infusorial' came to mean specifically 'relating to those microscopic aquatic organisms (infusoria)'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
relating to or characteristic of infusoria — microscopic aquatic protozoa or other minute organisms often found in water infusions.
The biologist described the sample's infusorial population after examining it under the microscope.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/12 08:55