BENTHOS

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does benthos mean? 

• BENTHOS (noun)
  The noun BENTHOS has 2 senses:

1. a region including the bottom of the sea and the littoral zones

2. organisms (plants and animals) that live at or near the bottom of a sea

  Familiarity information: BENTHOS used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BENTHOS (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A region including the bottom of the sea and the littoral zones

Classified under:

Nouns denoting spatial position

Synonyms:

benthic division; benthonic zone; benthos

Hypernyms ("benthos" is a kind of...):

biogeographical region (an area of the Earth determined by distribution of flora and fauna)

Derivation:

benthal; benthonic (of or relating to or happening on the bottom under a body of water)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Organisms (plants and animals) that live at or near the bottom of a sea

Classified under:

Nouns with no superordinates

Hypernyms ("benthos" is a kind of...):

being; organism (a living thing that has (or can develop) the ability to act or function independently)

Derivation:

benthonic (of or relating to or happening on the bottom under a body of water)

 Context examples 

In Lake Baikal, algae blooms threaten what scientists call an extraordinary biodiversity of the nearshore benthos, or bottom zone.

(Ancient lakes: eyes into the past, and the future, National Science Foundation)