pond scum
noun
1
: any of various algae (especially spirogyra) or cyanobacteria
2
: a mass of tangled filaments of algae or cyanobacteria in stagnant waters
Examples of pond scum in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Algae: The Food of the Future of the Past
In the years following World War II, American and European food scientists hoped to feed the world with common pond scum supplemented with plastics.
—
JSTOR Daily, 24 June 2024
Yet the evidence for cogitating pond scum grows daily.
—Rowan Jacobsen, Scientific American, 1 Feb. 2024
Certain minerals could've preserved that pond scum, forming what scientists call stromatolites — a kind of layered rock that's essentially a fossil.
—Eric Betz, Discover Magazine, 10 Feb. 2021
And perhaps the most intriguing possibility is that Jezero Crater may have once been home to microbial mats, like pond scum forming at a lake's edge.
—Eric Betz, Discover Magazine, 10 Feb. 2021
Peer at the cell structure in an onion's skin, examine a human hair or look at the busy microbial world of pond scum.
—Citizen Science Salon, Discover Magazine, 19 Mar. 2020
Treehugger reports: The pond scum in question is microcystin-LR (MC-LR), which makes water unsafe for drinking, swimming and fishing in many parts of the world.
—Smriti Rao, Discover Magazine, 10 Mar. 2010
After a lovely day of rolling in the grass, digging in the dirt, playing in mud or pond scum, bathe your pet with Calm Shampoo, which is a one-of-a-kind day at the spa for Rocco & Roxie Supply Co.'s dogs.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 22 Oct. 2022
The plaque on your teeth is a biofilm; so too are infections on catheters, the slimy green of pond scum and the gunk clogging your bathtub drain.
—Carrie Arnold, Quanta Magazine, 2 Nov. 2022
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.
JSTOR Daily, 24 June 2024
Yet the evidence for cogitating pond scum grows daily.
—Rowan Jacobsen, Scientific American, 1 Feb. 2024
Certain minerals could've preserved that pond scum, forming what scientists call stromatolites — a kind of layered rock that's essentially a fossil.
—Eric Betz, Discover Magazine, 10 Feb. 2021
And perhaps the most intriguing possibility is that Jezero Crater may have once been home to microbial mats, like pond scum forming at a lake's edge.
—Eric Betz, Discover Magazine, 10 Feb. 2021
Peer at the cell structure in an onion's skin, examine a human hair or look at the busy microbial world of pond scum.
—Citizen Science Salon, Discover Magazine, 19 Mar. 2020
Treehugger reports: The pond scum in question is microcystin-LR (MC-LR), which makes water unsafe for drinking, swimming and fishing in many parts of the world.
—Smriti Rao, Discover Magazine, 10 Mar. 2010
After a lovely day of rolling in the grass, digging in the dirt, playing in mud or pond scum, bathe your pet with Calm Shampoo, which is a one-of-a-kind day at the spa for Rocco & Roxie Supply Co.'s dogs.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 22 Oct. 2022
The plaque on your teeth is a biofilm; so too are infections on catheters, the slimy green of pond scum and the gunk clogging your bathtub drain.
—Carrie Arnold, Quanta Magazine, 2 Nov. 2022
Dictionary Entries Near pond scum
Cite this Entry
“Pond scum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pond%20scum. Accessed 15 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share