trypanosome

noun

try·​pano·​some tri-ˈpa-nə-ˌsōm How to pronounce trypanosome (audio)
: any of a genus (Trypanosoma) of parasitic flagellate protozoans that infest the blood of various vertebrates including humans, are usually transmitted by the bite of an insect, and include some that cause serious diseases (such as sleeping sickness and Chagas disease)

Examples of trypanosome in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The trypanosome mostly inserts its DNA into parts of the human genome that are already mobile. Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 14 Feb. 2010 Millions of people in Latin America have been invade by a parasite - a trypanosome called Trypanosome cruzi. Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 14 Feb. 2010 Other complex parasites set up shop in the human body for long, persistent infections, including other species of trypanosome. Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 14 Feb. 2010 Animals that might harbor trypanosomes were hunted down. Carey Baraka, Quartz Africa, 26 Apr. 2020 The cause of the headaches, weakness and pain were trypanosomes, tiny parasites spread by the bite of the tsetste fly — a companion of the elephants. Washington Post, 30 Oct. 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'trypanosome.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin Trypanosoma, from Greek trypanon auger + New Latin -soma -some — more at trepan

First Known Use

1903, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of trypanosome was in 1903

Dictionary Entries Near trypanosome

Cite this Entry

“Trypanosome.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trypanosome. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

trypanosome

noun
try·​pano·​some tri-ˈpan-ə-ˌsōm How to pronounce trypanosome (audio)
: any of a genus of parasitic protozoans that infect the blood, are usually transmitted by the bite of an insect, and include some that cause serious diseases (as sleeping sickness)

Medical Definition

trypanosome

noun
try·​pano·​some tri-ˈpan-ə-ˌsōm How to pronounce trypanosome (audio)
: any flagellate of the genus Trypanosoma

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