benthic

adjective

ben·​thic ˈben(t)-thik How to pronounce benthic (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or occurring at the bottom of a body of water
2
: of, relating to, or occurring in the depths of the ocean

Examples of benthic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The researchers identified six benthic habitats: macroalgae reef, macroalgae meadow, bare sand, sponge/sand, invertebrate reefs, and invertebrate boulders. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 7 Aug. 2024 As temperatures increased, the swimming performance of sharks also improved, with pelagic species capable of higher speeds than benthic ones. Melissa Cristina Marquez, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024 According to the team, assessing a marine environment from a predator’s perspective instead of a human’s can improve our understanding of the benthic environment and develop a more complete map of the seabed. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 7 Aug. 2024 The videos helped the team identify some previously unmapped sea lion habitats in the benthic zone–or the lowest ecological zone in a body of water. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 7 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for benthic 

Word History

Etymology

benthos

First Known Use

1902, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of benthic was in 1902

Dictionary Entries Near benthic

Cite this Entry

“Benthic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/benthic. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

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