epilimnion

E1P3I1L1I1M3N1I1O1N1

noun

The surface layer of a liquid body, used in reference to a reservoir or body of water

OriginEnglish epi- ← Ancient Greek ἐπῐ- (epĭ-) ← Proto-Hellenic *epí →
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Meanings

nounepilimnion (plural epilimnions or epilimnia)

plural epilimnions · plural epilimnia

  1. The surface layer of a liquid body, used in reference to a reservoir or body of water

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*h₁ep-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*h₁éps
  3. Proto-Indo-European*h₁épi
  4. Proto-Hellenic*epí
  5. Ancient Greekἐπί (epí)
  6. Ancient Greekἐπῐ- (epĭ-)
  7. Englishepi-
  8. Englishepilimnion

From epi- + -limnion.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

epilimnion. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/epilimnion

MLA

“epilimnion.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/epilimnion. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “epilimnion,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/epilimnion.

Source: epilimnion on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.