holoplankton [hol-uh-plangk-tuh n, hoh-luh-] Word Origin noun
- plankton that spend their entire life cycle as free-swimming organisms (opposed to hemiplankton).
Origin of holoplankton holo- + plankton Related formshol·o·plank·ton·ic [hol-oh-plangk-ton-ik, hoh-loh-] /ˌhɒl oʊ plæŋkˈtɒn ɪk, ˌhoʊ loʊ-/, adjective British Dictionary definitions for holoplankton holoplankton noun
- organisms, such as diatoms and algae, that spend all stages of their life cycle as planktonCompare meroplankton
holoplankton in Science holoplankton [hŏl′ə-plăngk′tən, hō′lə-]
- Plankton that remains free-swimming through all stages of its life cycle.