The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Vacuole \Vac"u*ole\, n. [L. vacuus empty: cf. F. vacuole.]
(Biol.)
A small air cell, or globular space, in the interior of
organic cells, either containing air, or a pellucid watery
liquid, or some special chemical secretions of the cell
protoplasm.
[1913 Webster]
Contractile vacuole. (Zool.) See under Contractile, and
see Illusts. of Infusoria, and Lobosa.
Food vacuole. (Zool.) See under Food, and see Illust. of
Infusoria.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Contractile \Con*tract"ile\, a. [Cf. F. contractile.]
tending to contract; having the power or property of
contracting, or of shrinking into shorter or smaller
dimensions; as, the contractile tissues.
[1913 Webster]
The heart's contractile force. --H. Brooke.
[1913 Webster]
Each cilium seems to be composed of contractile
substance. --Hixley.
[1913 Webster]
Contractile vacuole (Zool.), a pulsating cavity in the
interior of a protozoan, supposed to be excretory in
function. There may be one, two, or more.
[1913 Webster]