diatom

noun

di·​a·​tom ˈdī-ə-ˌtäm How to pronounce diatom (audio)
: any of a class (Bacillariophyceae) of minute planktonic unicellular or colonial algae with silicified skeletons that form diatomaceous earth

Examples of diatom in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web These are the remains of shells, sea urchins, coral, plankton, and diatoms that drifted down to what was a seabed 25 million years ago, forming thick sheets of limestone. Discover Magazine, 9 Feb. 2024 And only a single diatom species matched the tap water taken from his home. Jordan Michael Smith, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Jan. 2024 Unfortunately, Di Muro’s mother had washed his clothes after the evening of the murder—but diatoms can often survive a trip through the washing machine. Jordan Michael Smith, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Jan. 2024 Dinoflagellates and diatoms are the two main types of phytoplankton classes, according to the National Ocean Service. Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 3 Sep. 2023 Their observations supported the endosymbiotic theory of how the diatoms acquired the extra membrane around their chloroplasts. Kevin Hartnett, Quanta Magazine, 6 July 2023 Yee found that the same proton pump also helps diatoms make their tough silica shell. Kevin Hartnett, Quanta Magazine, 6 July 2023 The team will expand their research to imaging other fossil deposits to discover whether the diatom mats are also linked to preservation more broadly. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 26 Apr. 2022 The evidence, the two men said in the article, was clear: industrialized humanity had changed the composition of Earth’s atmosphere and oceans and had modified the landscape and biosphere—including diatom populations. Jan Zalasiewicz, Scientific American, 1 Dec. 2016

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'diatom.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

ultimately from Greek diatomos cut in half, from diatemnein to cut through, from dia- + temnein to cut — more at tome

First Known Use

1845, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of diatom was in 1845

Dictionary Entries Near diatom

Cite this Entry

“Diatom.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diatom. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

diatom

noun
di·​a·​tom ˈdī-ə-ˌtäm How to pronounce diatom (audio)
: any of a class of minute floating single-celled or colonial algae that are common in fresh and salt water and have a cell wall of silica that remains as a skeleton after death
diatomaceous
ˌdī-ət-ə-ˈmā-shəs
adjective

Medical Definition

diatom

noun
di·​a·​tom ˈdī-ə-ˌtäm How to pronounce diatom (audio)
: any of a class (Bacillariophyceae) of minute planktonic unicellular or colonial algae with silicified skeletons that form diatomite

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