krill
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of krill
First recorded in 1905–10, krill is from the Norwegian word kril young fry (of fish)
Explanation
Krill are small crustaceans that resemble shrimp. Hundreds of marine animals rely on krill for food, making them a vital part of the ocean's ecosystem. Krill may be most well-known as the preferred food of baleen whales, which filter the tiny creatures through mouthfuls of sea water. There are actually dozens and dozens of organisms that rely on krill to survive, from birds and fish to penguins, seals, and squid. Krill resemble shrimp, averaging about two inches long. Antarctic krill are one of the world's species with the largest biomass — almost 400 million tons. The Norwegian root, kril, means "small fry of fish."
Vocabulary lists containing krill
Amazing Animals, A-Z
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Amazing Animals, List 3
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Oceanography - Introductory
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Krill are difficult to count and it isn’t clear if numbers are declining, but research has shown that the population is moving south into colder water.
From BBC • Jun. 7, 2024
Krill feed on the microscopic plants and then transport fertilizing nutrients to the ocean floor in the form of waste and their molting shells.
From Seattle Times • Oct. 13, 2023
"Krill abundance will decline in Antarctic waters, impacting everything from penguins to whales," Hocevar explained.
From Salon • May 4, 2023
“The goal is to create chaos, to spread confusion and damage systems that are vital to the U.S.,” said Ilana Krill, a research fellow at the Program on Extremism and a co-author of the study.
From New York Times • Feb. 4, 2023
He was perfectly satisfied that Mrs. Krill was quite equal to deceiving Sandal.
From The Opal Serpent by Hume, Fergus
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
