foraminifer

for·a·min·i·fer

F0242500 (fôr′ə-mĭn′ə-fər, fŏr′-) also fo·ram·i·nif·er·an (fə-răm′ə-nĭf′ər-ən)n. Any of numerous chiefly marine protozoans of the order (or phylum) Foraminifera, characteristically having a calcareous shell with perforations through which numerous pseudopods protrude. The shells accumulate on the ocean floor as sediment.

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[From New Latin Forāminifera, order name : Latin forāmen, forāmin-, an opening + Latin -fer, -fer.]

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fo·ram′i·nif′er·al adj.

foraminifer

(ˌfɒrəˈmɪnɪfə) n (Biology) any marine protozoan of the phylum Foraminifera, having a shell with numerous openings through which cytoplasmic processes protrude. Often shortened to: foram See also globigerina, nummulite[C19: from New Latin, from foramen + -fer] foraminiferal, foˌramiˈniferous adj

for•a•min•i•fer

(ˌfɔr əˈmɪn ə fər, ˌfɒr-)

n. any chiefly marine protozoan of the order Foraminifera, typically having a linear, spiral, or concentric shell perforated by small holes or pores through which pseudopodia extend. [1835–45; < New Latin Foraminifera < Latin foramen]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

foraminifer - marine microorganism having a calcareous shell with openings where pseudopods protrudeforamrhizopod, rhizopodan - protozoa characterized by a pseudopodForaminifera, order Foraminifera - foraminifersglobigerina - marine protozoan having a rounded shell with spiny processesnummulite - large fossil protozoan of the Tertiary period