hydrochorous
|hy-dro-chor-ous|
🇺🇸
/ˌhaɪdrəˈkɔrəs/
🇬🇧
/ˌhaɪdrəˈkɔːrəs/
spread by water
Etymology
'hydrochorous' originates from New Latin/Modern scientific Latin and Ancient Greek, specifically the element 'hydor' (Greek ὕδωρ) meaning 'water' and the root 'chorein' (Greek χορεῖν) meaning 'to spread' or 'to move'.
'hydrochorous' was formed in scientific New Latin from 'hydrochory' (the noun for dispersal by water) and then adopted into English as the adjective 'hydrochorous' in botanical and ecological contexts.
Initially it meant 'pertaining to dispersal by water,' and over time it has retained that specific scientific sense into modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
dispersed or transported by water (used especially of seeds, fruits, or spores).
Many coastal plants are hydrochorous, their seeds carried away by ocean currents.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/14 20:12