any freshwater flagellate protozoan of the genus Volvox, occurring in colonies in the form of hollow multicellular spheres
Word origin
C18: from New Latin, from Latin volvere to roll
volvox in American English
(ˈvɑlˌvɑks)
noun
any of a genus (Volvox, family Volvocaceae) of multicellular, free-swimming, flagellated green algae whose cells form a pale green globular colony that rolls about in the water
Word origin
ModL < L volvere, to roll (see walk) + -ox (as in atrox, fierce)