periphyton

[ puh-rif-i-ton ]

/ pəˈrɪf ɪˌtɒn /

noun Ecology.

the community of tiny organisms, as protozoans, hydras, insect larvae, and snails, that lives on the surfaces of rooted aquatic plants.

Nearby words

periphery, periphlebitis, periphrase, periphrasis, periphrastic, periphyton, periplasm, periporitis, periproct, periproctitis, periprostatitis

Origin of periphyton

1940–45; probably peri- + Greek phŷton plant, -phyte, on the model of plankton

Related formsper·i·phyt·ic

[per-uh-fit-ik] /ˌpɛr əˈfɪt ɪk/, adjective

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

British Dictionary definitions for periphyton

periphyton

/ (pəˈrɪfɪˌtɒn) /

noun

aquatic organisms, such as certain algae, that live attached to rocks or other surfaces

Word Origin for periphyton

C20: from Greek, from peri- + phutos, from phuein to grow

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