alga

/'ælgə/

Thân thiện

A single-celled green alga floats in a drop of pond water under a microscope.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A simple, non-flowering, and typically aquatic plant of a large group that includes the seaweeds and many single-celled forms. Algae contain chlorophyll but lack true stems, roots, leaves, and vascular tissue.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The pond water turned green due to an overgrowth of alga.
  • Scientists study the alga to understand its role in the marine ecosystem.
  • That particular alga is a primary food source for some small fish.

Advanced Usage

• "Alga" vs. "Algae": "Alga" is the singular form, while "algae" is the plural. In general and scientific contexts, "algae" is often used as a collective term, even when referring to a singular concept.
  • One alga cell can multiply rapidly. / The algae in this sample are diverse.

Variants and Related Words

• Algae (n, plural): The plural form of alga, commonly used to refer to these organisms collectively.
  • The algae bloom caused problems for local fishermen.
• Algal (adj): Of or relating to algae.
  • The researcher studied the algal population in the lake.

Synonyms

• Seaweed (n): A macroscopic marine alga. (Note: "Seaweed" refers specifically to larger marine forms, while "alga" can be microscopic or macroscopic.)
• Phytoplankton (n): Microscopic marine algae that drift in the water column.

Related Phrases

• Algal bloom: A rapid increase in the population of algae in an aquatic system.
  • The algal bloom depleted oxygen levels in the water.
• Algae eater: An organism, often a fish, that consumes algae.
  • We added an algae eater to the aquarium to control the growth.

Học thuật

Noun

1. primitive chlorophyll-containing mainly aquatic eukaryotic organisms lacking true stems and roots and leaves

Từ đồng nghĩa

• algae