zooplankton
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Meaning
The small animals that float or drift in great numbers in bodies of salt or fresh water, often serving as food for fish and other larger aquatic animals.
Structure
Usage
The health of the coral reef depends on a steady supply of zooplankton.
Krill, a type of zooplankton, is a primary food source for whales.
Scientists sampled the lake's water to study the seasonal variation in zooplankton populations.
Etymology
The word 'zooplankton' is a modern scientific compound formed from two Greek roots. 'Zoo-' derives from the Greek 'zōion', meaning 'living being' or 'animal', which itself traces back to the Proto-Indo-European root gʷeyh₃- meaning 'to live'. 'Plankton' comes from the Greek 'planktos', the neuter passive participle of 'plazein' meaning 'to make wander or drift', related to the PIE root plak- ('to strike, to hit'). The term was coined in the late 19th century to logically categorize the drifting component of aquatic life that consists of animals, as distinct from 'phytoplankton' (plant-like drifters). Thus, the word's literal meaning, 'drifting animal', perfectly captures its modern biological definition.
Analysis
- zoo: From Greek 'zōion', meaning 'animal'. In this compound, it functions as a combining form meaning 'pertaining to animals'. - plankton: From Greek 'planktos', meaning 'drifting' or 'wandering'. It functions as the core noun, describing the drifting organisms.