Procarya

pro·kar·y·ote

also pro·car·y·ote (prō-kăr′ē-ōt′)

Any of various microorganisms of the domains Archaea and Bacteria, characterized by the absence of a distinct membrane-bound nucleus and membrane-bound organelles and by the simultaneous occurrence of DNA transcription and protein synthesis at the same site, in contrast to eukaryotes. Also called moneran.

[French procaryote : Greek pro-, before; see pro-² + Greek karuōtos, having nuts (from karuon, nut; see karyo-).]

pro·kar′y·ot′ic (-ŏt′ĭk) adj.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

prokaryote

(prəʊˈkærɪɒt) ,

prokaryot

procaryote

(Biology) any organism having cells in each of which the genetic material is in a single DNA chain, not enclosed in a nucleus. Bacteria and archaeans are prokaryotes. Compare eukaryote

[from pro-² + karyo- + -ote as in zygote]

prokaryotic, procaryotic adj

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

pro•kar•y•ote

or pro•car•y•ote

(proʊˈkær iˌoʊt, -i ət)

any one-celled organism that lacks a distinct membrane-bound nucleus and has its genetic material in the form of a continuous strand forming loops or coils: characteristic of monerans. Compare eukaryote.

[taken as singular of New Latin Prokaryota, earlier Procaryotes (1925); see pro-², eukaryote]

pro•kar`y•ot′ic (-ˈɒt ɪk) adj.

pro·kar·y·ote

(prō-kăr′ē-ōt′)

Any of a wide variety of one-celled organisms that lack a distinct cell nucleus or other structures bound by a membrane and that have DNA that is not organized into chromosomes. Prokaryotes reproduce asexually, are the most primitive and ancient known forms of life, and include the bacteria and blue-green algae. Prokaryotes are grouped as a separate kingdom in taxonomy. Also called moneran. Compare eukaryote. See Table at taxonomy.

The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.