Meanings
nounmacronucleus (plural macronuclei)
plural macronuclei
- biologyThe larger of the two nuclei present in ciliate protozoans; it controls the nonreproductive functions of the cell.
These binucleated forms have one macronucleus functional and another sexual micronucleus which is not functional in the ordinary life processes of the species.
1890, American Philosophical Society, ProceedingsSynonyms: meganucleus
Synonyms & antonyms
nounThe larger of the two nuclei present in ciliate protozoans; it controls the nonreproductive functions of the cell.
Similar
Origin
- Proto-Indo-European*meh₂ḱ-
- Proto-Indo-European*mh₂ḱrós
- Proto-Hellenic*makrós
- Ancient Greekμᾰκρός (măkrós)
- Frenchmacro-
- Englishmacro-
- Proto-Italic*knuks
- Latinnux
- Latinnucleu
- Englishnucleus
- Englishmacronucleus
Cite this entry
APA
macronucleus. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/macronucleus
MLA
“macronucleus.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/macronucleus. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “macronucleus,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/macronucleus.
Source: macronucleus on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.