eukaryote

/juˌkɛriˈoʊt/

Other forms: eukaryotes

A eukaryote is an organism whose cells contain a nucleus within a membrane. The genetic material and information of a eukaryote is contained within this nucleus.

Eukaryotes vary from single-celled organisms to complex multicellular animals and plants. In fact, most living things are eukaryotes, made up of cells with distinct nuclei and chromosomes that contain their DNA. The only organisms that aren't eukaryotes are bacteria and archaea, known as prokaryotes. The word eukaryote comes from the Greek eu, "well," and karyon, "nut or kernel," which is a common scientific word-forming element that's used to talk about the nuclei of cells.

Definitions of eukaryote

1. noun

   an organism with cells characteristic of all life forms except primitive microorganisms such as bacteria; i.e. an organism with `good' or membrane-bound nuclei in its cells
   synonyms: eucaryote

   antonyms:

   prokaryote

   a unicellular organism having cells lacking membrane-bound nuclei; bacteria are the prime example but also included are blue-green algae and actinomycetes and mycoplasma

   type of:

   being, organism

   a living thing that has (or can develop) the ability to act or function independently