eutrophying
|eu-troph-y-ing|
🇺🇸
/juːˈtroʊfi/
🇬🇧
/juːˈtrɒfi/
(eutrophy)
nutrient enrichment (often excessive)
Etymology
'eutrophy' originates from Greek, specifically the elements 'eu-' and 'trophē', where 'eu-' meant 'good, well' and 'trophē' meant 'nourishment, food'.
'eutrophy' is a scientific formation from Modern/Neo-Latin (e.g. 'eutrophia') based on Greek roots and entered English scientific usage in the 19th–20th centuries to describe nutrient states of ecosystems; it was adapted into English as 'eutrophy' and related forms (e.g. 'eutrophication', 'eutrophic').
Initially the Greek-derived sense focused on 'good' or 'well' nourishment; in modern scientific usage it evolved to mean 'excessive nutrient enrichment of an ecosystem (often harmful)', especially of aquatic systems.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the act or process of eutrophying (used as a gerund/noun): the process of becoming eutrophic or of causing eutrophication.
Eutrophying of the lake has led to decreased fish populations and foul odors in summer.
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Verb 1
present participle or gerund form of 'eutrophy': to cause (a body of water or ecosystem) to undergo eutrophication by adding nutrients, especially nitrogen and phosphorus, leading to excessive algal or plant growth and reduced oxygen levels.
Runoff from fertilizers is eutrophying the coastal estuary and causing recurrent algal blooms.
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Last updated: 2025/12/23 00:28