after encystment, each portion becoming a distinct animal, or in other ways, but never by true eggs. The
principal divisions are Rhizopoda, Gregarinæ, and Infusoria. See also Foraminifera, Heliozoa, Protoplasta,
Radiolaria, Flagellata, Ciliata.
Protozoan
(Pro`to*zo"an) a. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the Protozoa. — n. One of the Protozoa.
Protozoic
(Pro`to*zo"ic) a.
1. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the Protozoa.
2. (Geol.) Containing remains of the earliest discovered life of the globe, which included mollusks,
radiates and protozoans.
Protozoön
(||Pro`to*zo"ön) n.; pl. Protozoa [NL.] (Zoöl.) (a) One of the Protozoa. (b) A single zooid of
a compound protozoan.
Protozoönite
(Pro`to*zo"ö*nite) n. (Zoöl.) One of the primary, or first-formed, segments of an embryonic
arthropod.
Protracheata
(||Pro*tra`che*a"ta) n. pl. [NL. See Pro-, and Trachea.] (Zoöl.) Same as Malacopoda.
Protract
(Pro*tract") v. t. [imp. & p. p. Protracted; p. pr. vb. n. Protracting.] [L. protractus, p. p. of
protrahere to forth, protract; pro forward + trahere to draw. See Portrait, Portray.]
1. To draw out or lengthen in time or (rarely) in space; to continue; to prolong; as, to protract an argument; to
protract a war.
2. To put off to a distant time; to delay; to defer; as, to protract a decision or duty. Shak.
3. (Surv.) To draw to a scale; to lay down the lines and angles of, with scale and protractor; to plot.
4. (Zoöl.) To extend; to protrude; as, the cat can protract its claws; — opposed to retract.
Protract
(Pro*tract"), n. [L. protractus.] Tedious continuance or delay. [Obs.] Spenser.
