benthos

[ ben-thos ]

/ ˈbɛn θɒs /

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noun

the biogeographic region that includes the bottom of a lake, sea, or ocean, and the littoral and supralittoral zones of the shore.

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Also called benthic division, benthonic zone .

Origin of benthos

1890–95; <Greek bénthos depth (of the sea); akin to bathos, bathy-

Words nearby benthos

bent grass, Bentham, Benthamism, benthic, benthon, benthos, Bentinck, Bentley, bento, Benton, Benton Harbor

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

British Dictionary definitions for benthos

benthos

benthon

/ (ˈbɛnθɒs) /

noun

the animals and plants living at the bottom of a sea or lake

the bottom of a sea or lake

Derived forms of benthos

benthic, benthal or benthonic, adjective

Word Origin for benthos

C19: from Greek: depth; related to bathus deep

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for benthos

benthos

[ bĕn′thŏs′ ]

The bottom of a sea or lake.

The organisms living on sea or lake bottoms. The benthos are divided into sessile organisms (those that are attached to the bottom or to objects on or near the bottom) and vagrant organisms (those that crawl or swim along the bottom). Compare nekton plankton. See more at epifauna infauna.