halophile

[ hal-uh-fahyl ]

nounMicrobiology.
  1. any organism, most commonly a species of archaea, that requires a salt-rich environment for its growth and survival.

Origin of halophile

1
First recorded in 1835–45; halo- + -phile

Other words from halophile

  • hal·o·phil·ic [hal-uh-fil-ik], /ˌhæl əˈfɪl ɪk/, ha·loph·i·lous [ha-lof-uh-luhs], /hæˈlɒf ə ləs/, adjective

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

British Dictionary definitions for halophile

halophile

/ (ˈhæləʊˌfaɪl) /


noun
  1. an organism that thrives in an extremely salty environment, such as the Dead Sea

Derived forms of halophile

  • halophilic, adjective

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