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plankton

   Also found in: Medical, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.01 sec.
plank·ton  (plngktn)
n.
The collection of small or microscopic organisms, including algae and protozoans, that float or drift in great numbers in fresh or salt water, especially at or near the surface, and serve as food for fish and other larger organisms.

[German, from Greek, neuter of planktos, wandering, from plazein, to turn aside; see plk-2 in Indo-European roots.]

plank·tonic (-tnk) adj.

plankton [ˈplæŋktən]
n
(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Biology) the organisms inhabiting the surface layer of a sea or lake, consisting of small drifting plants and animals, such as diatoms Compare nekton
[via German from Greek planktos wandering, from plazesthai to roam]
planktonic  [plæŋkˈtɒnɪk] adj

plankton  (plngktn)
Small organisms that float or drift in great numbers in bodies of salt or fresh water. Plankton is a primary food source for many animals, and consists of bacteria, protozoans, certain algae, cnidarians, tiny crustaceans such as copepods, and many other organisms. Compare benthosnekton
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.planktonplankton - the aggregate of small plant and animal organisms that float or drift in great numbers in fresh or salt water
organism, being - a living thing that has (or can develop) the ability to act or function independently
phytoplankton - photosynthetic or plant constituent of plankton; mainly unicellular algae
zooplankton - animal constituent of plankton; mainly small crustaceans and fish larvae
copepod, copepod crustacean - minute marine or freshwater crustaceans usually having six pairs of limbs on the thorax; some abundant in plankton and others parasitic on fish
congeries, conglomeration, aggregate - a sum total of many heterogenous things taken together
Translations
plankton [ˈplæŋktən] Nplankton m

plankton [ˈplæŋktən] nplancton m
planned economy néconomie planifiée

plankton
nPlankton nt

plankton [ˈplæŋktən] nplancton m inv
plankton [ˈplæŋktən] nplancton m inv

plankton
n plankton [ˈplӕŋktən]
very tiny living creatures floating in seas, lakes etc. plankton كائِنات حَيَّة دَقيقَه планктон plankton plankton das Plankton πλαγκτόν plancton plankton پلانکتون plankton plancton פְּלַנקטוֹן प्लवक जीव plankton plankton plangton svif plancton プランクトン 플랑크톤 planktonas planktons plankton plankton plankton plankton plâncton plancton планктон planktón plankton plankton plankton สิ่งมีชีวิตขนาดเล็กมากในน้ำ plânkton 浮游生物 планктон پاني کي کيڑے sinh vật phù du


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