diatom

One entry found for diatom.

Main Entry: di·a·tom
Pronunciation: 'dI-&-"täm
Function: noun
Etymology: ultimately from Greek diatomos cut in half, from diatemnein to cut through, from dia- + temnein to cut -- more at TOME
: any of a class (Bacillariophyceae) of minute planktonic unicellular or colonial algae with silicified skeletons that form diatomaceous earth