cirrus

views updated May 18 2018

cirrus
1. (pl. cirri) In certain ciliate protozoa, an organelle, formed by the fusion of a group of cilia, which usually functions in locomotion.

2. In many invertebrates, a slender bodily appendage, often resembling a tentacle. In Polychaeta it bears cilia.

3. In some flatworms and trematodes, an eversible copulatory organ.

4. In some fishes (e.g. Creediidae) a tuft of skin on the jaw.

5. See CIRRIPEDIA.

cirrus

views updated May 29 2018

cirrus(plural cirri) A Latin word meaning ‘a tuft or lock of hair’.

1. A cloud type that comprises high-level, banded clouds in fibrous filaments aligned approximately along their line of movement. See also cloud classification.

2. In certain ciliate protozoa, an organelle formed by the fusion of a group of cilia (see cilium), which usually functions in locomotion or feeding.

3. In many invertebrates, a slender bodily appendage, often resembling a tentacle. In polychaete worms (Polychaeta) it bears cilia (see cilium).

4. In some flatworms and trematodes, an eversible copulatory organ.

5. In some fishes (e.g. Creediidae) a tuft of skin on the jaw.

cirrus

views updated Jun 11 2018

cir·rus / ˈsirəs/ • n. (pl. cir·ri / ˈsirˌī; ˈsirē/ ) 1. cloud forming wispy filamentous tufted streaks (“mare's tails”) at high altitude, usually 16,500–45,000 feet (5–13 km).2. Zool. a slender tendril or hairlike filament, such as the appendage of a barnacle, the barbel of a fish, or the intromittent organ of an earthworm. ∎  Bot. a tendril.

cirrus

views updated May 08 2018

cirrus (plural cirri) From the Latin cirrus, meaning a tuft or lock of hair.

1. A cloud type comprising high-level, banded clouds in fibrous filaments aligned approximately along their line of movement. See also CLOUD CLASSIFICATION.

2. In certain ciliate protozoa, an organelle formed by the fusion of a group of cilia, which usually functions in locomotion or feeding.

cirrus

views updated May 29 2018

cirrus See CALAMUS; CERATOLOBUS; and DAEMONOROPS.

cirrus

views updated May 23 2018

cirrus (bot.) tendril; (zool.) filamentary appendage XVIII; form of cloud having the appearance of wisps XIX. — L., ‘curl’, comb. form cirro- (see -o-), as in cirro-cumulus, -stratus XIX.