plankton
noun/ˈplæŋ(k).tən/
Etymology Borrowed from German Plankton, coined by German zoologist and marine biologist Victor Hensen. By surface analysis, Ancient Greek πλαγκτός (planktós, “drifter”) + -on. Ultimately from Ancient Greek πλαγκτόν (planktón, “drifting”), neuter nominative of πλαγκτός (planktós), from πλάζομαι (plázomai, “to wander, drift”), from πλάζω (plázō, “to cause to wander, drive astray”). By surface analysis, plankt- + -on.
1
Usually Organisms, especially small and microscopic ones, that drift in water.
- Whales feed on tiny plankton drifting in the ocean.
- The lake water was full of microscopic plankton.
1 more example
- The study focused on the role of plankton in the food chain.
2
Usually A plankter, any single organism that drifts in water.
- Derived terms
40 terms
aeroplankton, archaeoplankton, bacterioplankton, bathyplankton, epiplankton, euplankton, femtoplankton, geoplankton, haliplankton, holoplankton, ichthyoplankton, jellyplankton, limnoplankton, macroplankton, megaplankton, meroplankton, mesoplankton, microplankton, mixoplankton, mycoplankton, nanoplankton, nektoplankton, nonplankton, office plankton, paleoplankton, phytoplankton, picoplankton, planktivore, planktivorous, planktonic, planktonivore, planktonivory, planktonology, planktonophagous, potamoplankton, protozooplankton, pseudoplankton, tychoplankton, ultraplankton, zooplankton- Related terms
- plankter, planktic, planktology, planktotrophic