flagellum

English

Etymology

From Latin flagellum (“whip”), diminutive of flagrum, from Proto-Indo-European *bhlag (“to strike”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fləˈdʒɛləm/

Noun

flagellum (plural flagella or flagellums)

1. (biology) In protists, a long, whiplike membrane-enclosed organelle used for locomotion or feeding.
2. (biology) In bacteria, a long, whiplike proteinaceous appendage, used for locomotion.
3. A whip

Synonyms

• (organelle of protists): cilium
• (whip): whip

Translations

long whiplike organelle

• Bulgarian: камшиче n (kamšiče)
• Finnish: siima (fi)
• French: flagelle (fr) m
• Greek: μαστίγιο (el) n (mastígio)

• Russian: жгутик (ru) m (žgútik)
• Spanish: flagelo (es)
• Swedish: flagell (sv) c

long whiplike appendage

• Bulgarian: камшиче n (kamšiče)
• Finnish: siima (fi)
• French: flagelle (fr) m

• Greek: μαστίγιο (el) n (mastígio)
• Russian: жгутик (ru) m (žgútik)
• Swedish: flagell (sv) c

whip — see whip

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Latin

Etymology

From flagrum (“scourge, whip”).

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /flaˈgel.lum/

Noun

flagellum n (genitive flagellī); second declension

1. whip, lash, scourge
2. tentacle

Inflection

Second declension neuter.

Number	Singular	Plural
nominative	flagellum	flagella
genitive	flagellī	flagellōrum
dative	flagellō	flagellīs
accusative	flagellum	flagella
ablative	flagellō	flagellīs
vocative	flagellum	flagella

Related terms

• flagellō

Descendants

• Catalan: flagell
• Dalmatian: frazial
• English: flagellum, flail, flagellant
• French: fléau

• Italian: flagello
• Portuguese: flagelo
• Romanian: flagel
• Spanish: flagelo