Definition

A type of tiny organism that lives in the blood of animals and humans, often spread by insect bites, and can cause serious illnesses like sleeping sickness.

Example

The doctor diagnosed the patient with a trypanosome infection after he traveled to an area where the disease is common.

Conversation

Did you hear about that documentary on sleeping sickness?

Yeah, they mentioned how it's caused by a trypanosome transmitted by tsetse flies.

It's crazy how such a tiny organism can have such a big impact on health.

I know! It's really important to raise awareness about these diseases.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Trypanosome → It is formed from 'trypano-' (from Greek 'trypanon', meaning hole or perforation) and '-some' (from Greek 'soma', meaning body). The word refers to a body that has a hole or is perforated, which is characteristic of these parasitic organisms.

Memory Tip

Think of 'trypano-' meaning a hole and '-some' meaning body, which helps you remember that a trypanosome is a type of organism that has a body with a distinctive shape, often associated with holes.

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