diatom
UK /ˈdaɪ.ə.təm/ · US /ˈdaɪ.əˌtɔm/ noun
Forms diatoms
- noun Any of a group of minute unicellular algae having a siliceous covering of great delicacy, now categorized as class Diatomophyceae or division Bacillariophyta.
- noun (chemistry) A molecule composed of two atoms of the same element; a homonuclear diatomic molecule.
Etymology
From (deprecated) genus name Diatoma, from Ancient Greek διάτομος (diátomos, “cut through, cut in half”).
From di- + atom.
Webster’s 1913
- noun One of the Diatomaceæ, a family of minute unicellular Algæ having a siliceous covering of great delicacy, each individual multiplying by spontaneous division. By some authors diatoms are called Bacillariæ, but this word is not in general use.
- noun A particle or atom endowed with the vital principle.
Etymology [Gr. Diatomous.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “diatom”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details