krill

American  

[kril] / krɪl /

noun

plural

krill

1. any of the small, pelagic, shrimplike crustaceans of the family Euphausiidae, eaten as food by certain whales.

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krill British  

/ krɪl /

noun

1. any small shrimplike marine crustacean of the order Euphausiacea : the principal food of whalebone whales

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krill Scientific  

/ krĭl /

1. Small crustaceans that float in the ocean in huge numbers and are one of the most important parts of zooplankton. Krill are the main food of baleen whales.

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Etymology

Origin of krill

First recorded in 1905–10, krill is from the Norwegian word kril young fry (of fish)

Example Sentences

They enter the food chain when small creatures like krill consume them.

From Science Daily • Apr. 1, 2026

But no, Scottish salmon gets its color largely from its diet of shrimp and krill.

From Salon • Feb. 28, 2026

"Phytoplankton are the primary source of food for krill, the microscopic shrimp that are the main source of food in the Southern Ocean for virtually every animal, including penguins, seals, walruses and whales," Falkowski said.

From Science Daily • Jan. 12, 2026

However, their main food source, krill, is threatened by climate change.

From Barron's • Oct. 12, 2025

It would be hard to get his mind past the little legs and shells and feelers and actually swallow a mouthful of krill.

From "The Voyage Of The Frog" by Gary Paulsen