spirulina
Americannoun
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Microbiology. any of three species of the cyanobacteria genus Arthrospira, especially A. platensis, which is widely cultivated as a dietary supplement.
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the dietary supplement itself, which is a source of protein, vitamins, and antioxidants.
Add a spoonful of powdered spirulina to your morning smoothie.
noun
Etymology
Origin of spirulina
First recorded in 1840–50; New Latin, equivalent to spīrul(a) “small coil” + -īna (adjective suffix); so called from their corkscrew shape; see spiral, -ina 2, -ule,
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.
All this means that Mars must upgrade more than 300 machines across its M&M’s plants to handle spirulina.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 18, 2026
The freeze-dried puffs are made with natural ingredients, including spirulina, paprika, vegetable juice, turmeric and fruit juice.
From Salon ● Oct. 21, 2025
When dried out it's know as spirulina and is used as a dietary supplements, a food ingredients, and as a bright-blue food colouring.
From BBC ● Jan. 20, 2025
In tropical places such as Kenya, sunshine throughout the year helps microscopic photosynthesizers thrive, and the water’s high salinity and pH favors the growth of spirulina, a cyanobacterium that is the lesser flamingo’s primary food.
From Science Magazine ● Apr. 12, 2024
Cyanobacteria such as spirulina are already grown industrially in several countries -- mostly for health foods.
From Science Daily ● Feb. 27, 2024
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.
