diatom
UK[ˈdaɪətəm]US[ˈdaɪətəm]
n
A type of microscopic algae that lives in water, has a cell wall made of silica, and is an important source of food and oxygen.
Morpheme Breakdown
dia
tom
dia
through
tom
cut
Etymology
The word 'diatom' is a modern scientific term constructed from Greek components. It literally means "cut through," a reference to the distinctive structure of the diatom's silica cell wall, which often appears as if it is composed of two perfectly fitted halves or sections. This name was chosen by 19th-century biologists to describe the microscopic algae whose cell walls are typically divided into two symmetrical valves. The logic moves from the concrete Greek concept of being "cut in two" to the modern, specific biological classification based on this observable, segmented physical form.
Analysis
Structure: dia (through) + tom (cut)
dia- (Greek origin, preposition meaning 'through, across'). -tom (from Greek tomos, meaning 'a cut, slice', from the verb temnein 'to cut').
Examples
Diatoms are a primary component of plankton and form the base of many aquatic food webs.
The intricate, glass-like shells of diatoms are often used in filters and as a mild abrasive.
Under the microscope, the geometric symmetry of a diatom's frustule is clearly visible.