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Anton van
[ahn-tawn vahn] /ˈɑn tɔn vɑn/ (Show IPA), 1632–1723, Dutch naturalist and microscopist.
Historical Examples

Leeuwenhoek has given a particular and entertaining account of the proceedings of I. Aphidum.
An Introduction to Entomology: Vol. IV (of 4) William Kirby

As has been stated, Leeuwenhoek considered bacteria to be animalcules because they showed independent movement.
The Fundamentals of Bacteriology Charles Bradfield Morrey

Leeuwenhoek calculated that two females might become the grandmothers of 10,000 lice in eight weeks.
Animal Parasites and Messmates P. J. Van Beneden

But little attention was paid to the natural history of these animalcules for nearly a hundred years after Leeuwenhoek.
The Fundamentals of Bacteriology Charles Bradfield Morrey

Leeuwenhoek gives an instance of a woman of the lower classes who had a tick in the middle of her stomach.
Animal Parasites and Messmates P. J. Van Beneden

Leeuwenhoek mentions the case of a woman whose leg had been enlarging with glandular bodies for some years.
An Introduction to Entomology: Vol. I (of 4) William Kirby

The first naturalist who studied the mouth-parts of a flea, with such microscopes as were then available, was Leeuwenhoek.
The Flea Harold Russell

This fortunate chance, which Leeuwenhoek desires, presented itself to Mr. Needham.
Buffon’s Natural History, Volume III (of 10) Georges Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon

But to feel all the wonder of this fact we must follow Leeuwenhoek in one of his calculations on the subject.
An Introduction to Entomology: Vol. I (of 4) William Kirby

In common with wheat and barley it also suffers from Leeuwenhoek’s wolf and the weevil.
An Introduction to Entomology: Vol. I (of 4) William Kirby

noun
Anton van (ˈɑntɔn vɑn). 1632–1723, Dutch microscopist, whose microscopes enabled him to give the first accurate description of blood corpuscles, spermatozoa, and microbes

Leeuwenhoek Leeu·wen·hoek or Leu·wen·hoek (lā’vən-huk’, lā’ü-wən-hōōk’), Anton van. 1632-1723.

Dutch naturalist and microscopy pioneer. His careful observations resulted in accurate descriptions of bacteria, spermatozoa, and red blood cells.
Leeuwenhoek
(lā’vən-hk’)
Dutch naturalist and pioneer of microscopic research. He was the first to describe protozoa, bacteria, and spermatozoa. He also made observations of yeasts, red blood cells, and blood capillaries, and traced the life histories of various animals, including the flea, ant, and weevil.

Our Living Language : As a young man Anton van Leeuwenhoek worked in a drapery store, where he used magnifying glasses to count thread densities. Perhaps inspired by Robert Hooke’s Micrographia (an account of Hooke’s microscopic investigations in botany, chemistry, and other branches of science, published in 1665), he began building microscopes. He examined hair, blood, insects, and other things around him, keeping detailed records and drawings of his observations. Although compound microscopes with more than one lens had been invented at the end of the fourteenth century, they were able to magnify objects only 20 to 30 times. Van Leeuwenhoek’s single-lens microscopes were basically powerful magnifying glasses, but his superior lens-grinding skills and acute eyesight enabled him to magnify objects up to 200 times. Van Leeuwenhoek made each microscope for a specific investigation, and he had his specimens permanently mounted so he could study them as long as he wanted. His discoveries include protozoans (1674), blood cells (1674), bacteria (1676), spermatozoa (1677), and the structure of nerves (1717). By the time of his death at the age of ninety, van Leeuwenhoek had constructed more than 400 microscopes.