Meanings
nounbioherm (plural bioherms)
plural bioherms
- geographyA mass of rock constructed from the remains of marine organisms such as coral or algae, especially in a mound or dome shape.
Bioherms are built quickly. Over the course of a century, one will rise by up to 7 metres, and expand across the sea floor, following the contours and topology of what already exists.
2022, Thomas Halliday, Otherlands, Penguin, published 2023, page 143
Origin
From bio- (“life”) + Ancient Greek ἕρμα (hérma, “sunken rock, reef”).
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Bulgarian коралов риф
- коралов риф (koralov rif)a mass of rock constructed from the remains of marine organisms such as coral or algae
Irish bith-heirm
- bith-heirma mass of rock constructed from the remains of marine organisms such as coral or algae
Italian bioherma
- biohermaa mass of rock constructed from the remains of marine organisms such as coral or algae
Rhymes & wordplay
Anagrams
Cite this entry
APA
bioherm. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bioherm
MLA
“bioherm.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bioherm. Accessed November 4, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “bioherm,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bioherm.
Source: bioherm on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.