algae

[ al-jee ]
See synonyms for algae on Thesaurus.com
plural noun,singular al·ga [al-guh]. /ˈæl gə/.
  1. Microbiology. any of numerous groups of chlorophyll-containing, mainly aquatic, eukaryotic organisms ranging from microscopic single-celled forms to multicellular forms 100 feet (30 meters) or more long, distinguished from plants by the absence of true roots, stems, and leaves and by a lack of nonreproductive cells in the reproductive structures: classified into the six phyla Euglenophyta, Crysophyta, Pyrrophyta, Chlorophyta, Phaeophyta, and Rhodophyta.

Origin of algae

1
First recorded in 1790–1800; from New Latin, plural of Latin alga “seaweed”

Other words from algae

  • al·gal [al-guhl], /ˈæl gəl/, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use algae in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for algae

algae

/ (ˈældʒiː) /


pl nsingular alga (ˈælɡə)
  1. unicellular or multicellular organisms formerly classified as plants, occurring in fresh or salt water or moist ground, that have chlorophyll and other pigments but lack true stems, roots, and leaves. Algae, which are now regarded as protoctists, include the seaweeds, diatoms, and spirogyra

Origin of algae

1
C16: from Latin, plural of alga seaweed, of uncertain origin

Derived forms of algae

  • algal (ˈælɡəl), adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for algae

algae

[ (al-jee) ]


Primitive organisms that contain chlorophyll but do not have structures, such as xylem and phloem, to transport fluids. Algae sometimes contain only a single cell, and nowadays they are not considered members of the plant kingdom.

Notes for algae

The most familiar algae are the greenish scum that collects in still water.

Notes for algae

Algae supply a considerable part of the world's oxygen.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.