eukaryote

UK: /juːˈkærɪˌɒt/ US: (yo̅o̅ kar′ē ōt′, -ē ət)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

eu•kar•y•ote  (yo̅o̅ kar′ē ōt′, -ē ət), n. [Biol.]

1. Biology, Cell Biology any organism having as its fundamental structural unit a cell type that contains specialized organelles in the cytoplasm, a membrane-bound nucleus enclosing genetic material organized into chromosomes, and an elaborate system of division by mitosis or meiosis, characteristic of all life forms except bacteria, blue-green algae, and other primitive microorganisms.

Also, eucaryote. Cf. prokaryote. 

• Neo-Latin Eukaryota, earlier Eucaryotes (1925) "those having a true nucleus,'' equivalent. to eu- eu- + Greek káry(on) nut, kernel (see karyo-) + Neo-Latin -ota, -otes; see -ote

eu•kar•y•ot•ic  (yo̅o̅ kar′ē ot′ik), adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

eukaryote, eucaryote / juːˈkærɪˌɒt/ noun

1. any member of the Eukarya, a domain of organisms having cells each with a distinct nucleus within which the genetic material is contained. Eukaryotes include protoctists, fungi, plants, and animals
   Compare prokaryote

Etymology: from eu- + karyo- + -ote as in zygote

eukaryotic, eucaryotic / ˌjuːkærɪˈɒtɪk/ adjective