krill

noun

ˈkril How to pronounce krill (audio)
: planktonic crustaceans and their larvae (order or suborder Euphausiacea and especially genus Euphausia) that constitute the principal food of baleen whales

Examples of krill in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The marine mammals consume more than 1,000 pounds of food per day, with their diet largely consisting of krill, shrimp, sardines and other fish. — Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2025 Besides enhanced omega-3 absorption, krill oil is touted for its antioxidant content. — Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 27 Feb. 2025 Initially, there was a large increase in krill, shortly followed by a leap in anchovy abundance. — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 26 Feb. 2025 Humpback whales are large cetaceans that feed primarily on krill, fish and plankton. — Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 14 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for krill

Word History

Etymology

Norwegian kril fry of fish

First Known Use

1907, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of krill was in 1907

Rhymes for krill

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Cite this Entry

“Krill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/krill. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

krill

noun
ˈkril How to pronounce krill (audio)
: small crustaceans and their larvae that make up plankton and form a major food of baleen whales

More from Merriam-Webster on krill

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about krill

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