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pleuston

[ ploo-stuhn, -ston ]

noun

, Biology.
  1. a buoyant mat of weeds, algae, and associated organisms that floats on or near the surface of a lake, river, or other body of fresh water.


pleuston

/ -stɒn; ˈpluːstən /

noun

  1. a mass of small organisms, esp algae, floating at the surface of shallow pools
“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
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Other Words From

  • pleus·ton·ic [ploo-, ston, -ik], adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of pleuston1

First recorded in 1905–10; from German Pleuston, from Greek pleûs(is) “a sailing” (from pleîn “to sail, go by sea”) + -ton, on the model of nekton, plankton
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Word History and Origins

Origin of pleuston1

C20: from Greek pleusis sailing, from plein to sail; for form, compare plankton

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