spirogyra

noun

spi·​ro·​gy·​ra ˌspī-rə-ˈjī-rə How to pronounce spirogyra (audio)
: any of a genus (Spirogyra) of freshwater green algae with spiral chloroplasts

Examples of spirogyra 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.
Specialists reckon that human run-off contributed to the lake’s latest crisis: the sudden and widespread appearance of a new form of algae, spirogyra. —The Economist, 22 Feb. 2018

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin Spirogyra, genus name, from Latin spīra "coil, twist, whorl" + Greek -o- -o- + gȳrá, feminine of gȳrós "curved, rounded" — more at spire entry 3, gyre entry 1

Note: The genus was introduced by the German botanist Johann Heinrich Friedrich Link (1767-1851) in "Epistola de algis aquaticis in genera disponendis," Horae physicae Berolinensis collectae ex symbolis virorum doctorum, edited by Christian Nees von Esenbeck (Bonn, 1820), p. 5.

First Known Use

1875, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of spirogyra was in 1875

Dictionary Entries Near spirogyra

Spirographis

spirogyra

spiroid

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Spirogyra.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spirogyra. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.

Copy Citation

Share

Kids Definition

spirogyra

noun
spi·​ro·​gy·​ra ˌspī-rə-ˈjī-rə How to pronounce spirogyra (audio)
: any of a genus of freshwater green algae with spiral chloroplasts

More from Merriam-Webster on spirogyra

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about spirogyra

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See All

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Plural and Possessive Names: A Guide

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See All

Popular in Wordplay

See All

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)

9 Superb Owl Words

15 Words That Used to Mean Something Different
See All

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
little chihuahua dressing like a turkey for thanksgiving
Is That Gratitude or Attitude? A Thanksgiving Quiz Decide which words express gratitude and which gi...