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red alga
noun
plural red algae also red algas
: any of a division (Rhodophyta) of chiefly marine algae that have predominantly red pigmentation
Examples of red alga in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Rhodomela subfusca, a red alga.
—Leslie Nemo, Scientific American, 29 Mar. 2021
Cryptophytes are the result of a merger between two organisms: a red alga that was engulfed by another unknown eukaryote (an organism with cells that contain enclosed nuclei).
—Viviane Callier, Smithsonian, 23 Oct. 2019
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Word History
First Known Use
1834, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near red alga
Cite this Entry
“Red alga.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/red%20alga. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.
Kids Definition
red alga
noun
: any of various algae that usually grow in the ocean and are of reddish color
Medical Definition
red alga
noun
: any of a division (Rhodophyta) of chiefly marine algae that have predominantly red pigmentation
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