bioherm

American  

[bahy-oh-hurm] / ˈbaɪ oʊˌhɜrm /

noun

Geology.

1. a carbonate rock formation, in the form of an ancient reef or hummock, consisting of the fossilized remains of corals, algae, mollusks, and other sedentary marine life, and commonly surrounded by rock of a different lithology.

---

bioherm British  

/ ˈbaɪəʊˌhɜːm /

noun

1. a mound of material laid down by sedentary marine organisms, esp a coral reef

2. the fossilized remains of such a mound

---

Other Word Forms

• biohermal adjective

Etymology

Origin of bioherm

1925–30; bio- + -herm < Greek hérma sunken rock, reef