Definition
The whip-like tail appendages that bacteria and some single-celled organisms use to swim around like microscopic Olympic swimmers. These protein-based propellers spin at ridiculous speeds to move the organism toward food or away from danger. It's basically nature's outboard motor, but at a scale that makes nanotechnology look huge.
Example Usage
The bacterium's flagella rotated at over 100 revolutions per second, propelling it through the culture medium.
Source: Microbiology terminology, biological science
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