abyssal

[ uh-bis-uhl ]

adjective

1. of or like an abyss; immeasurable; unfathomable.
2. Oceanography. of or relating to the biogeographic zone of the ocean bottom between the bathyal and hadal zones: from depths of approximately 13,000 to 21,000 feet (4,000 to 6,500 meters).

abyssal

/ əˈbɪsəl /

adjective

1. of or belonging to the ocean depths, esp below 2000 metres (6500 feet)

   abyssal zone

2. See plutonic
   geology another word for plutonic

abyssal

/ ə-bĭs′əl /

1. Relating to the greatest depths of the oceans and to the organisms that live there. The abyssal zone encompasses all depths below 4,000 m (13,120 ft).
2. Relating to the region of the ocean bottom between the bathyal and hadal zones , from depths of approximately 2,000 to 6,000 m (6,560 to 19,680 ft). The abyssal zone includes nearly two-thirds of the Earth's surface.

Word History and Origins

Origin of abyssal¹

First recorded in 1600–10; from Medieval Latin abyssālis, abyss, -al ¹

Example Sentences

Though surveys are difficult to conduct at the depths where they live and much of the abyssal plains have not been explored, we do know that xenophyophore meadows may cover large areas and that they inhabit the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

From Nautilus

They are the summits of very lofty mountains which have their bases in an abyssal ocean.

From Project Gutenberg

Verily, wheresoever it is, it is in the Abyssal World, where there is neither end nor limit.

From Project Gutenberg

Oceanic islands are those, usually very small, found in the midst of the ocean, with abyssal depth all about.

From Project Gutenberg

The zonarial Radiolaria live floating at various depths between the pelagic and abyssal species ( 234).

From Project Gutenberg

It must be remembered that abyssal faunas are almost unknown among fossils.

From Project Gutenberg