green alga

English - English

Definition of green alga in English English dictionary

Any of very many organisms, of the division Chlorophyta, that grow in damp places; a chlorophyte

Any of the numerous algae of the division Chlorophyta, such as spirogyra and sea lettuce, that have chlorophyll unmasked by other pigments

Related Terms

blue-green alga

Any member of the cyanobacteria; a primitive photosynthetic organism similar to bacteria which is thought to have generated the first oxygen in the Earth's atmosphere

yellow-green alga

Any alga, of the class Xanthophyceae, that have yellow carotenoid pigments as well as chlorophyll

A green alga

chlorophyte

Hyphenation

green al·ga

Etymology

[ 'grEn ] (adjective.) before 12th century. Middle English grene, from Old English grEne; akin to Old English grOwan to grow.