axoneme

A1X8O1N1E1M3E1

noun

A bundle of nine microtubules forming the internal scaffolding of a cilium, with two extra central microtubules connecting the others if the cilium is motile

OriginAncient Greek ἄξων →
Scrabble 16
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Meanings

nounaxoneme (plural axonemes)

plural axonemes

  1. biologyA bundle of nine microtubules forming the internal scaffolding of a cilium, with two extra central microtubules connecting the others if the cilium is motile

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
cilioskeleton

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekἄξων“axis”
  2. Englishaxoneme

From Ancient Greek ἄξων (áxōn, “axis”) + νῆμα (nêma, “thread”).

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

axoneme. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/axoneme

MLA

“axoneme.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/axoneme. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “axoneme,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/axoneme.

Source: axoneme on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.