planktonic
adjUK /plaŋkˈtɒnɪk/ · US /plæŋkˈtɑnɪk/
Etymology From plankton + -ic, after German planktonisch. 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”).
1
Of or pertaining to plankton.
- Tiny shells of planktonic animals rain down from the surface waters of the ocean on to the deep sea-floor.2004, Richard Fortey, The Earth, Folio Society, published 2011, page 146:
2
Floating in the open sea rather than living on the seafloor.