macronucleus

English

Etymology

Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *meh₂ḱ-
Proto-Indo-European *-rós
Proto-Indo-European *mh₂ḱrós
Proto-Hellenic *makrós
Ancient Greek μᾰκρός (măkrós)der.
French macro-der.
English macro-
Proto-Italic *knuks
Latin nux
Latin nucleuslbor.
English nucleus
English macronucleus

    From macro- + nucleus.

    Noun

    macronucleus (plural macronuclei)

    1. (biology) The larger of the two nuclei present in ciliate protozoans; it controls the nonreproductive functions of the cell.
      • 1890, American Philosophical Society, Proceedings:
        These binucleated forms have one macronucleus functional and another sexual micronucleus which is not functional in the ordinary life processes of the species.

    Synonyms

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