phytodetritus

P3H4Y4T1O1D2E1T1R1I1T1U1S1

noun

marine detritus, of plant origin, that slowly sinks to the depths and is the food source for abyssal benthic communities

OriginEnglish detritus ← Ancient Greek φῠτόν (phŭtón) →
Scrabble 22
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Meanings

nounphytodetritus (uncountable)
  1. uncountablebiologymarine detritus, of plant origin, that slowly sinks to the depths and is the food source for abyssal benthic communities

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekφῠτός (phŭtós)
  2. Ancient Greekφῠτόν (phŭtón)
  3. Englishphyto-
  4. Englishdetritus
  5. Englishphytodetritus

From phyto- + detritus.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

phytodetritus. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/phytodetritus

MLA

“phytodetritus.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/phytodetritus. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “phytodetritus,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/phytodetritus.

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