Dinophysidales

plural noun

Di·​no·​phys·​i·​da·​les
-ˌfizəˈdā(ˌ)lēz
: an order of algae (class Dinophyceae) having the cell wall made up of a definite number of plates arranged in a fixed pattern and vertically divided into two similar halves or valves compare desmokontae

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin, from Dinophysid-, taken as stem of Dinophysis, a typical genus (from dino- dino- + Greek phýsis "nature, outer form") + -ales -ales

Note: The genus name Dinophysis was introduced by the German zoologist and microbiologist Christian Gottfried Ehrenberg (1795-1876) in Bericht über die zur Bekanntmachung geeigneten Verhandlungen der Königl. Preuss. Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin—Aus dem Jahre 1839, p. 157.

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Dictionary Entries Near Dinophysidales

Cite this Entry

“Dinophysidales.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Dinophysidales. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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