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.
And they have studied spirulina, an organism that some people affectionately call “pond scum.”
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.
