biofouling
|bi-o-foul-ing|
🇺🇸
/ˌbaɪoʊˈfaʊlɪŋ/
🇬🇧
/ˌbaɪəʊˈfaʊlɪŋ/
living-organism buildup on submerged surfaces
Etymology
'biofouling' originates from Greek and Old English/Modern English, specifically the prefix 'bio-' from Greek 'bios' meaning 'life' and the English word 'foul' (from Old English 'fūlian') meaning 'to make dirty or contaminate.'
'biofouling' developed as a modern compound combining Greek-derived 'bio-' + English 'fouling'; 'foul' comes from Old English 'fūl'/'fūlian' (to make filthy), and the compound emerged in 20th-century maritime and marine-science usage to describe living organisms fouling submerged surfaces.
Initially the elements referred separately to 'life' (bio-) and 'making foul' (foul); over time the compound came to mean specifically the process or result of living organisms accumulating on submerged surfaces.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the accumulation of microorganisms, plants, algae, or animals on wetted surfaces such as ship hulls, aquaculture equipment, or underwater structures.
Biofouling on the ship's hull increased drag and fuel consumption.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/29 11:39