any parasitic flagellate protozoan of the genus Trypanosoma, which lives in the blood of vertebrates, is transmitted by certain insects, and causes sleeping sickness and certain other diseases
Derived forms
trypanosomal (ˌtrypanoˈsomal) or trypanosomic (ˌtrɪpənəˈsɒmɪk)
adjective
Word origin
C19: from New Latin Trypanosoma, from Greek trupanon borer + sōma body
trypanosome in American English
(ˈtrɪpənəˌsoʊm; trɪˈpænəˌsoʊm)
noun
any of a genus (Trypanosoma) of zooflagellates that live as parasites in the blood of human beings and other vertebrates, are usually transmitted by an insect bite, and often cause serious diseases, as sleeping sickness or Chagas' disease
Word origin
< ModL Trypanosoma < Gr trypanon, borer (see trepan1) + ModL -soma, -some3