Advertisement
Advertisement
nekton
[ nek-ton, -tuhn ]
noun
- the aggregate of actively swimming aquatic organisms in a body of water, able to move independently of water currents.
nekton
/ nĕk′tən,-tŏn′ /
- The collection of marine and freshwater organisms that can swim freely and are generally independent of currents, ranging in size from microscopic organisms to whales.
- Compare benthos
Discover More
Derived Forms
- nekˈtonic, adjective
Discover More
Other Words From
- nek·tonic adjective
Discover More
Word History and Origins
Discover More
Word History and Origins
Origin of nekton1
C19: via German from Greek nēkton a swimming thing, from nēkhein to swim
Discover More
Example Sentences
Strong swimming animals which move about at will are nekton.
From Project Gutenberg
The animals of the open sea are conveniently divided into the active swimmers (Nekton) and the more passive drifters (Plankton).
From Project Gutenberg
Advertisement
Word of the Day
[pet-ri-kawr]
Meaning and examplesStart each day with the Word of the Day in your inbox!
By clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Browse