benthic
|ben-thic|
C1
/ˈbɛnθɪk/
bottom of water body
Etymology
Etymology Information
'benthic' originates from the Greek word 'benthos,' meaning 'depths of the sea.'
Historical Evolution
'benthos' was adopted into scientific English as 'benthic' to describe organisms and environments at the sea floor.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it referred specifically to the depths of the sea, but now it encompasses all bottom environments in aquatic systems.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
relating to or occurring at the bottom of a body of water.
The benthic zone is home to many unique species.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/04/04 14:17