Motility: meaning, definitions and examples
๐
motility
[ mษสหtษชlษti ]
biological movement
Motility refers to the ability of an organism or a cell to move spontaneously and actively. It is crucial for various biological processes, including locomotion, feeding, and reproduction. In multicellular organisms, motility can involve the movement of entire organisms or the movement of cells within tissues. In unicellular organisms, motility is often facilitated by structures like flagella or cilia. Understanding motility is important in fields such as biology, medicine, and ecology.
Synonyms
locomotion, mobility, movement
Examples of usage
- The motility of sperm cells is essential for fertilization.
- Certain bacteria exhibit motility, allowing them to navigate toward nutrients.
- The study of gut motility helps in diagnosing digestive disorders.
Translations
Translations of the word "motility" in other languages:
๐ต๐น motilidade
๐ฎ๐ณ เคเคคเคฟเคถเฅเคฒเคคเคพ
๐ฉ๐ช Beweglichkeit
๐ฎ๐ฉ motilitas
๐บ๐ฆ ะผะพัะพัะธะบะฐ
๐ต๐ฑ motoryka
๐ฏ๐ต ้ๅ่ฝๅ
๐ซ๐ท motilitรฉ
๐ช๐ธ motilidad
๐น๐ท hareketlilik
๐ฐ๐ท ์ด๋์ฑ
๐ธ๐ฆ ุงูุญุฑูุฉ
๐จ๐ฟ pohybnost
๐ธ๐ฐ pohyblivosลฅ
๐จ๐ณ ่ฟๅจ่ฝๅ
๐ธ๐ฎ gibljivost
๐ฎ๐ธ hreyfanleiki
๐ฐ๐ฟ าะพะทาะฐะปาััััา
๐ฌ๐ช แแแซแ แแแแแก แฃแแแ แ
๐ฆ๐ฟ hษrษkษtlilik
๐ฒ๐ฝ motilidad
Etymology
The term 'motility' is derived from the Latin word 'movere', which means 'to move'. The prefix 'mot-' relates to movement and is common in English words associated with motion. First recorded in the late 19th century, 'motility' emerged as a scientific term used primarily in biological contexts to describe the inherent ability of living organisms to move. As biology evolved, particularly in fields like microbiology and physiology, 'motility' became crucial in understanding cellular behavior and organismal functions. This concept has grown in importance with advances in research, enhancing our comprehension of processes such as cell migration and organismal locomotion.
Word Frequency Rank
With rank #15,654, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.
- ...
- 15651 serpentine
- 15652 reinstate
- 15653 tabernacle
- 15654 motility
- 15655 tangle
- 15656 overlay
- 15657 deflected
- ...