ciliate

1 of 2

noun

cil·​i·​ate ˈsi-lē-ət  -lē-ˌāt 

: any of a phylum or subphylum (Ciliophora) of ciliated protozoans (such as paramecia)

ciliate

2 of 2

adjective

cil·​i·​ate ˈsi-lē-ət  -lē-ˌāt 

variant of ciliated

: possessing cilia

ciliated epithelial cells

Examples of ciliate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In the rumen microbiome, bacteria are essential to cow digestion, but ciliates may not be. — Marlowe Starling, Quanta Magazine, 27 July 2026

The team found that rumen ciliates with more of the hydrogen-producing structures helped generate more methane than microbes with fewer hydrogenobodies did. — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 30 Apr. 2026

Once inside, prey organisms — including bacteria, protozoans like ciliates and amoebae and even tiny soil mites — are subjected to conditions with very low oxygen. — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026

Similar events elsewhere have involved parasitic ciliates in the genus ‘Philaster’. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 12 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1916, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

ciliate

noun

cil·​i·​ate ˈsil-ē-ət 

-ˌāt

: any of a group of protozoans that have cilia

Medical Definition

ciliate

noun

cil·​i·​ate ˈsil-ē-ət, -ē-ˌāt 

: any of a phylum or subphylum (Ciliophora) of ciliated protozoans (such as paramecia)