FLAGELLATE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does flagellate mean? 

• FLAGELLATE (noun)
  The noun FLAGELLATE has 1 sense:

1. a usually nonphotosynthetic free-living protozoan with whiplike appendages; some are pathogens of humans and other animals

  Familiarity information: FLAGELLATE used as a noun is very rare.

• FLAGELLATE (adjective)
  The adjective FLAGELLATE has 1 sense:

1. having or resembling a lash or whip (as does a flagellum)

  Familiarity information: FLAGELLATE used as an adjective is very rare.

• FLAGELLATE (verb)
  The verb FLAGELLATE has 1 sense:

1. whip

  Familiarity information: FLAGELLATE used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• FLAGELLATE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A usually nonphotosynthetic free-living protozoan with whiplike appendages; some are pathogens of humans and other animals

Classified under:

Nouns denoting animals

Synonyms:

flagellate; flagellate protozoan; flagellated protozoan; mastigophoran; mastigophore

Hypernyms ("flagellate" is a kind of...):

protozoan; protozoon (any of diverse minute acellular or unicellular organisms usually nonphotosynthetic)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "flagellate"):

dinoflagellate (chiefly marine protozoa having two flagella; a chief constituent of plankton)

genus Leishmania; Leishmania (flagellate protozoan that causes leishmaniasis)

zooflagellate; zoomastigote (flagellate protozoan lacking photosynthesis and other plant-like characteristics)

hypermastigote (flagellate symbiotic in the intestines of e.g. termites)

polymastigote (flagellates with several flagella)

costia; Costia necatrix (a flagellate that is the cause of the frequently fatal fish disease costiasis)

giardia (a suspected cause of diarrhea in humans)

trichomonad (cause of trichomoniasis in women and cattle and birds)

Holonyms ("flagellate" is a member of...):

class Flagellata; class Mastigophora; Flagellata; Mastigophora (protozoa having flagella)

Derivation:

flagellate (having or resembling a lash or whip (as does a flagellum))

flagellum (a lash-like appendage used for locomotion (e.g., in sperm cells and some bacteria and protozoa))

• FLAGELLATE (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Having or resembling a lash or whip (as does a flagellum)

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Synonyms:

flagellate; flagellated; lash-like; whiplike

Pertainym:

flagellum (a lash-like appendage used for locomotion (e.g., in sperm cells and some bacteria and protozoa))

Derivation:

flagellate (a usually nonphotosynthetic free-living protozoan with whiplike appendages; some are pathogens of humans and other animals)

• FLAGELLATE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they flagellate    ... he / she / it flagellates   
Past simple: flagellated   
Past participle: flagellated   
-ing form: flagellating   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Whip

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

flagellate; scourge

Context example:

The religious fanatics flagellated themselves

Hypernyms (to "flagellate" is one way to...):

flog; lash; lather; slash; strap; trounce; welt; whip (beat severely with a whip or rod)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

flagellant (a person who whips himself as a religious penance)

flagellant (a person who is whipped or whips himself for sexual gratification)

flagellation (beating with a whip or strap or rope as a form of punishment)

flagellum (a whip used to inflict punishment (often used for pedantic humor))

 Context examples 

An abnormal large leukocyte found in the blood in hairy cell leukemia; it has numerous irregular cytoplasmic villi that give it a flagellated or hairy appearance.

(Hairy Cell, NCI Thesaurus)