diatom
noun
di·a·tom
| \ ˈdī-ə-ˌtäm
\
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Definition of diatom
: any of a class (Bacillariophyceae) of minute planktonic unicellular or colonial algae with silicified skeletons that form diatomaceous earth
Examples of diatom in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
At least three species of dinoflagellates and one diatom species are responsible for the toxic mess of red tides in the United States. — Jenny Howard, National Geographic, "Red tides, explained," 5 July 2019 The Pseudonitzchia species of algae, forms of diatoms, more commonly create red tides off the coast of California. — Jenny Howard, National Geographic, "Red tides, explained," 5 July 2019 Paleosols are typically full of pollen and microfossils of simple organisms, such as diatoms, a kind of algae that can indicate climate conditions. — Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, "Rising Seas Swallowed Countless Archaeological Sites. Scientists Want Them Back," 20 May 2019 Diatomaceous earth is an organic powder that consists of the fossilized remains of tiny aquatic organisms, called diatoms. — Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics, "How to Get Rid of Termites," 8 Jan. 2019 Sprinkle Diatomaceous Earth Diatomaceous Earth, or DE, is a white crumbly powder consisting of the fossilized remains of diatoms, a class of algae. — Rebecca Straus, Good Housekeeping, "5 Ways to Get Rid of Silverfish," 25 July 2018 Carbon-dating of the mud showed that some of those diatoms had been deposited in what is now Lake Whillans as recently as 10,000 years ago—which was startling enough. — National Geographic, "The West Antarctic Ice Sheet Seems to Be Good at Collapsing," 13 June 2018 Get Some Diatomaceous Earth Diatomaceous Earth, or DE, is a white crumbly powder consisting of the fossilized remains of diatoms, a class of algae. — Rebecca Straus, Good Housekeeping, "6 Ways To Get Rid Of Silverfish," 27 July 2016 For instance, some of the evidence for the climate hypothesis comes from pollen and diatoms from the bottom of nearby Lake Ossa. — Kiona N. Smith, Ars Technica, "African rainforests vanished for 600 years, then bounced back—why?," 27 Feb. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'diatom.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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