diatom

Etymology

From Ancient Greek διά (diá, “through”) + τέμνειν (témnein, “to cut”), i.e., "cut in half"

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈdaɪətəm/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈdaɪətɑːm/

• Audio (US)

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Noun

diatom (plural diatoms)

1. Any of a group of minute unicellular algae having a siliceous covering of great delicacy, now categorized as class Diatomophyceae or division Bacillariophyta, formerly all included in the order Diatomaceae, now obsolete.