food web

American  

[food web] / ˈfud ˌwɛb /

noun

Ecology.

food webs plural

1. a series of organisms related by predator-prey and consumer-resource interactions; the entirety of interrelated food chains in an ecological community.

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food web British  

noun

1. a combination of food chains that integrate to form a network

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food web Scientific  

1. See under food chain

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• food webs
  plural

Etymology

Origin of food web

First recorded in 1960–65

Example Sentences

The evidence suggests that giant octopuses were an exception, rising to the top levels of the food web and competing directly with large vertebrates.

From Science Daily • Apr. 25, 2026

Instead, they argue that complex food web dynamics require careful analysis and strong evidence.

From Science Daily • Feb. 12, 2026

Microplastics, along with ultra-tiny nanoplastics, can kill or severely sicken marine life before entering the food web and ultimately ending up on our plates.

From Barron's • Jan. 22, 2026

While scientists are still determining their exact position in the food web, nematodes are known to be ecologically important in many environments.

From Science Daily • Jan. 10, 2026

To uncover this ancient food web, McGill researchers analyzed all known animal fossils from a single geological formation in central Colombia.

From Science Daily • Dec. 19, 2025