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.
Expect to see more turmeric and spirulina extracts and “fruit and vegetable juice” listed on your candy wrappers in the next few years.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 14, 2026
A colorful and refreshing sweet treat, TJ’s Watermelon Freeze Dried Candies are made with spirulina, paprika, vegetable juice, turmeric and fruit juice.
From Salon • Jul. 30, 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
Cultivated under controlled conditions, spirulina and chlorella are the two most commercially available algae that contain high doses of micronutrients and are rich in protein.
From Science Daily • Dec. 18, 2023
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.
