phytoplankton
nounUK /ˌfaɪ.təˈplæŋk.tən/ · US /ˌfaɪ.təˈplæŋk.tən/
Etymology From phyto- + plankton. From Ancient Greek φυτόν (phutón, “plant”) + πλαγκτόν (planktón), neuter of πλαγκτός (planktós, “wandering”). However, they are no longer classified as plants, so the terminology is showing a historical meaning.
1
Plankton, especially those small in size, that obtain energy by photosynthesis.
- Synonyms
- microalga
- Derived terms
- macrophytoplankton, microphytoplankton, nanophytoplankton, phytoplankton bloom, phytoplanktonic, picophytoplankton, ultraphytoplankton
- Coordinate terms
- zooplankton