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algae

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The definition of algae is a single or multi-cellular organism that has no roots, stems or leaves and is often found in water.

Facts About Algae

Algae are photosynthetic organisms, meaning they use sunlight and chlorophyll to make food.

At one time, algae were thought to be plants, but are not because they lack roots, stems and leaves.
They live all over the world, from the oceans to the desert, and from hot springs to snow and ice.
Many things eat algae, including: fish, sea urchins, worms, snails, sea turtles, seals, crustaceans, and even humans.
Seaweed is highly nutritious, delicious, and can be cooked with pasta, put in salads, used in meat dishes, all because of its versatility.

(noun)

Examples of algae are seaweed, kelp, and red, brown and green algae.
An example of algae in the Pacific Ocean are the giant kelps which growing over 65 yards in length, forming a marine forest.
An example of algae is Alginate, made from brown algae, which is used as a thickener in many food products such as ice cream and salad dressings.
An example of algae is agar, made from red algae, which is a thickener in food products and an ingredient in time-released drugs, laxatives, shampoos and fertilizers.

See algae in Webster's New World College Dictionary

plural noun sing. alga

any of several divisions of simple photosynthetic organisms, esp. certain thallophytes, variously one-celled, colonial, or filamentous, containing chlorophyll and other pigments (esp. red and brown), and having no true root, stem, or leaf: algae are found in water or damp places, and include seaweeds and pond scum

Origin: pl. of L alga, seaweed < IE base *el-, *ol-, to be moldy, putrid > Swed ul, rancid, Du uilig, rotten

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