nekton

UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈnɛktɒn/US:USA pronunciation: respellingUSA pronunciation: respelling(nek′ton, -tən)


WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
nek•ton  (nek′ton, -tən),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. Zoology, Ecologythe aggregate of actively swimming aquatic organisms in a body of water, able to move independently of water currents.
  • German, noun, nominal use of neuter of nēktós swimming (verbid of né̄chein to swim; see nectopod)
  • 1890–95
nek•ton′ic, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
nekton /ˈnɛktɒn/ n
  1. the population of free-swimming animals that inhabits the middle depths of a sea or lake
    Compare plankton
Etymology: 19th Century: via German from Greek nēkton a swimming thing, from nēkhein to swim
'nekton' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
plankton - pleuston

Forum discussions with the word(s) "nekton" in the title:


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