cœnocyte Biol.
(ˈsiːnɒsaɪt)
[f. cœno- + -cyte.]
= syncytium sense a, esp. one formed by nuclear division. Hence cœnocytic (-ˈsɪtɪk) a.
| 1900 J. R. Green Introd. Veg. Physiol. i. 11 Other cœnocytes exist in which, besides the limiting wall, certain transverse walls exist, dividing the chamber into compartments. Ibid. xxvi. 421 The fact that it is cœnocytic is shown by the presence of a number of nuclei in the protoplasmic mass. 1902 Encycl. Brit. XXV. 265/2 Instead of a single relatively large nucleus, each cell is found to contain many small nuclei, and is spoken of as a cœnocyte. 1912 J. S. Huxley Individ. in Animal Kingdom iv. 89 Botanists distinguish between cells, which have one nucleus, and coenocytes, or masses of protoplasm with many nuclei. Ibid. 160 In the third type (Coenocytic) the nucleus alone divides, and the final result is a coenocyte. 1952 New Biol. XIII. 100 Such a non-septate, multi-nucleate system is called a coenocyte. 1952 Sci. News XXV. 58 Valonia macrophysa, a coenocytic alga growing in seawater, will accumulate potassium ions in the sap to a high concentration. 1968 H. Harris Nucleus & Cytoplasm i. 10 It is thus merely the phenomenon of nuclear growth without nuclear division which distinguishes Acetabularia from many coenocytic organisms. |