1. A single-celled marine organism with a shell or test, typically containing many small holes through which pseudopodia extend.
Usage: biology; paleontology; often used in plural form 'foraminifers' or 'foraminifera'

Examples

• Foraminifers are abundant in ocean sediments and are important indicators of past climate conditions.
• The paleontologist studied fossilized foraminifers to determine the age of the rock layer.
• Foraminifers use their pseudopodia to capture food particles from seawater.
• The shells of foraminifers contribute significantly to the composition of some limestone deposits.
• Scientists use foraminifers as biomarkers to track changes in ocean temperature over millions of years.