coccolith

[ kok-uh-lith ]

noun

1. a microscopic calcareous disk or ring making up part of the covering of certain marine plankton and forming much of the content of chalk rocks.

coccolith

/ ˈkɒkəlɪθ /

noun

1. any of the round calcareous plates in chalk formations: formed the outer layer of unicellular plankton

Other Words From

• cocco·lithic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of coccolith¹

1865–70; < New Latin Coccolithus originally a genus name; coccus, -o-, -lith

Word History and Origins

Origin of coccolith¹

C19: New Latin, from Greek kokkos berry + lithos stone