plankton

noun

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.

1. Organisms, especially small and microscopic ones, that drift in water.

   “Whales feed on tiny plankton drifting in the ocean.”

   “The lake water was full of microscopic plankton.”

2. A plankter, any single organism that drifts in water.