Diatom Definition
dīə-tŏm
diatoms
noun
Any of a class (Bacillariophyceae) of microscopic algae (division Chromophycota), one-celled or in colonies, whose cell walls consist of interlocking parts and valves and contain silica: diatoms are a source of food for all kinds of marine life.
Webster's New World
Other Word Forms of Diatom
Noun
Singular:
diatom
Plural:
diatomsOrigin of Diatom
-
New Latin diatoma from Greek diatomos cut in half from diatemnein to cut in half dia- dia- temnein to cut tem- in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
From Ancient Greek διά (dia, “through”) + τέμνειν (temnein, “to cut”), i.e., "cut in half"
From Wiktionary
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