plankton
/ˈplæŋ(k).tən/ noun
Forms planktons
- noun (uncountable) Organisms, especially small and microscopic ones, that drift in water. “Whales feed on tiny plankton drifting in the ocean.”
- noun (countable) A plankter, any single organism that drifts in water.
Etymology
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.
Webster’s 1913
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “plankton”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details