'Contractile vacuole' definitions:
Definition of 'Contractile vacuole'
From: GCIDE
- Vacuole \Vac"u*ole\, n. [L. vacuus empty: cf. F. vacuole.] (Biol.) A small air cell, or globular space, in the interior of organic cells, either containing air, or a pellucid watery liquid, or some special chemical secretions of the cell protoplasm. [1913 Webster]
- Contractile vacuole. (Zool.) See under Contractile, and see Illusts. of Infusoria, and Lobosa.
- Food vacuole. (Zool.) See under Food, and see Illust. of Infusoria. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Contractile vacuole'
From: GCIDE
- Contractile \Con*tract"ile\, a. [Cf. F. contractile.] tending to contract; having the power or property of contracting, or of shrinking into shorter or smaller dimensions; as, the contractile tissues. [1913 Webster]
- The heart's contractile force. --H. Brooke. [1913 Webster]
- Each cilium seems to be composed of contractile substance. --Hixley. [1913 Webster]
- Contractile vacuole (Zool.), a pulsating cavity in the interior of a protozoan, supposed to be excretory in function. There may be one, two, or more. [1913 Webster]