ClimateAugust 15, 2026

oligotrophic

ol-ih-go-TRO-fik

Definition

Relating to a body of water that is relatively low in plant nutrients and contains an abundant amount of dissolved oxygen.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek 'oligos' meaning 'few' and 'trophikos' meaning 'pertaining to food or nourishment.' It entered scientific usage to describe environments with sparse nutrient supplies.

In the news

The researchers used oligotrophic conditions in their experiment to determine how goldfish impact lakes with naturally low nutrient levels compared to nutrient-rich environments.

Do You Know What Happens to a Goldfish Once It’s Released Into the Wild?

Read the full article ↗

Yahoo

Related words

acclimate

To become accustomed to a new climate or to a new environment or set of conditions.

Climate

aftershocks

Smaller earthquakes that occur in the same region following a primary, more powerful…

Climate

arroyos

Dry creek beds, gullies, or channels that periodically fill with water after heavy…

Climate

barbet

A small to medium-sized bird belonging to a group of tropical and subtropical species,…

Climate

benthic

Relating to or occurring at the bottom of a body of water, such as a lake, river, or…

Climate

billowed

To move or flow outward in a large, surging, or swelling cloud-like mass, especially of…

Climate

Learn words like this every day

Meet new words every morning.

Newspoken pulls carefully chosen words from the day’s news — with clear definitions, context, and light review that makes them stick. Get it on your phone.