1. Plural of macrocyst; large, thick-walled resting cells or spores produced by certain organisms, particularly slime molds and some bacteria, that can survive harsh environmental conditions.
Usage: biology; technical; plural form

Examples

• The slime mold forms macrocysts when environmental conditions become unfavorable.
• Macrocysts allow certain microorganisms to enter a dormant state and survive for extended periods.
• Scientists observed the development of macrocysts under the microscope during the experiment.
• These macrocysts have thick protective walls that shield the organism from desiccation.