green algae

plural noun

1. any grass-green, chiefly freshwater algae of the phylum Chlorophyta, often growing on wet rocks, damp wood, or on the surface of stagnant water.

green algae

plural noun

1. the algae of the phylum Chlorophyta, which possess the green pigment chlorophyll. The group includes sea lettuce and spirogyra

Word History and Origins

Origin of green algae¹

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

Researchers from Osaka Metropolitan University and their collaborators discovered that a pigment known as siphonein helps marine green algae continue photosynthesizing efficiently, even under intense light.

Read more on Science Daily

Now, because bright green algae keeps reappearing every year around this time, Toledo must always be prepared for such outbreaks.

Read more on Salon

It could also cause harmful algae to grow out of control, creating wide patches of green algae that can poison other life.

Read more on BBC

There’s a faucet on the eastern end of the campground where water from the creek is piped, but upon my arrival, the trough where the water came out was covered in thick green algae.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

These viruses had specialized in infecting green algae in the sea.

Read more on Science Daily