Standard Lemma guide

macronucleus

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

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Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

The larger of the two nuclei present in ciliate protozoans; it controls the nonreproductive functions of the cell.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: biology, natural-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

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.