bacillariae

2 definitions found

bacillariae - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Bacillariae \Bac"il*la`ri*[ae]\, n. pl. [NL., fr. L. bacillum,
     dim. of baculum stick.] (Biol.)
     See Diatom.
     [1913 Webster]

  Diatom \Di"a*tom\ (d[imac]`[.a]*t[o^]m), n. [Gr. dia`tomos cut
     in two. See Diatomous.]
     1. (Bot.) One of the Diatomace[ae], a family of minute
        unicellular Alg[ae] having a siliceous covering of great
        delicacy, each individual multiplying by spontaneous
        division. By some authors diatoms are called
        Bacillari[ae], but this word is not in general use.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. A particle or atom endowed with the vital principle.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              The individual is nothing. He is no more than the
              diatom, the bit of protoplasm.        --Mrs. E. Lynn
                                                    Linton.
        [1913 Webster]