holoplankton

[ hol-uh-plangk-tuh n, hoh-luh- ]

/ ˌhɒl əˈplæŋk tən, ˌhoʊ lə- /

noun

plankton that spend their entire life cycle as free-swimming organisms (opposed to hemiplankton).

Nearby words

holophrase, holophrasis, holophrastic, holophyte, holophytic, holoplankton, holopneustic, holoprosencephaly, holorachischisis, holosericeous, holosystolic

Origin of holoplankton

holo- + plankton

Related forms

hol·o·plank·ton·ic

[hol-oh-plangk-ton-ik, hoh-loh-] /ˌhɒl oʊ plæŋkˈtɒn ɪk, ˌhoʊ loʊ-/, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for holoplankton

holoplankton

/ (ˌhɒləˈplæŋktən) /

noun

organisms, such as diatoms and algae, that spend all stages of their life cycle as planktonCompare meroplankton

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

Science definitions for holoplankton

holoplankton

[ hŏl′ə-plăngk′tən, hō′lə- ]

Plankton that remains free-swimming through all stages of its life cycle.