Hydrocyte
/ˈhaɪ.drə.saɪt/noun
A cell associated with water, especially in certain biological or technical contexts.
Did you know?Hydrocyte is a modern scientific formation from Greek roots, and its ending -cyte comes from a word for “hollow vessel” or “cell,” the same ancient idea behind many biology terms.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
ὕδωρ (hydōr)
“water”
Ancient Greek
Greek
κύτος (kytos)
“hollow vessel, container”
Modern Scientific Latin
Latin
hydro- + -cyte
“water + cell/vessel”
19th Century
English
hydrocyte
“a term formed in scientific usage for a water-associated cell”
Modern English
English
hydrocyte
“a technical biological term for a cell related to water”
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