| Noun | 1. | Cryptophyta - a phylum in the kingdom Protoctista kingdom Protoctista, Protoctista - in most modern classifications, replacement for the Protista; includes: Protozoa; Euglenophyta; Chlorophyta; Cryptophyta; Heterokontophyta; Rhodophyta; unicellular protists and their descendant multicellular organisms: regarded as distinct from plants and animals class Cryptophyceae, Cryptophyceae - motile usually brownish-green protozoa-like algae phylum - (biology) the major taxonomic group of animals and plants; contains classes |