plankton
n. uncountablen. tiny plants and animals that drift in the ocean or fresh water. They are a very important food source for many larger sea creatures like whales.
n. a diverse collection of organisms that live in large bodies of water and are unable to swim against a current. Provides a crucial foundational role in aquatic food webs and the global carbon cycle.
Many whales eat tiny plankton to survive.
The health of the local fish population depends heavily on the seasonal availability of plankton in the upper layers of the ocean.
Borrowed from German Plankton, coined by German zoologist and marine biologist Victor Hensen. By surface analysis, Ancient Greek πλαγκτός (planktós, “drifter”) + -on. Ultimately from Ancient Greek πλαγκτόν (planktón, “drifting”), neuter nominative of πλαγκτός (planktós), from πλάζομαι (plázomai, “to wander, drift”), from πλάζω (plázō, “to cause to wander, drive astray”). By surface analysis, plankt- + -on.
Usually treated as a collective singular noun; occasionally used as a plural in scientific contexts to refer to different species.