Definition

A type of single-celled organism that is often golden in color and belongs to a group known for living in water, particularly in freshwater environments.

Example

Chrysophytes are important in aquatic ecosystems as they contribute to the food web.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of a chrysophyte?

No, what's that?

It's a type of golden alga that you can find in some freshwater.

That sounds interesting! I didn't know algae could be golden.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Chrysophyte → It is formed from "chryso-" (from Greek "chrysos", meaning gold) and "phyte" (from Greek "phyton", meaning plant). The word refers to a group of golden-colored algae, thus meaning golden plant.

Memory Tip

Think of 'gold' ('chryso-') to remember that 'chrysophyte' refers to a golden-colored plant, specifically a type of algae.

Visually Confused Words