algae

Language: en

🇬🇧 /ˈælgi/ 🇺🇸 /ˈældʒiː/

📖 Definitions

  1. noun
    Plural of alga; a large and diverse group of simple, typically aquatic, photosynthetic organisms ranging from unicellular forms to large seaweeds.

🔗 Details

Word forms

countable / uncountable Plural: algae

Collocations

algal bloomblue-green algaealgae growthalgae bloomgreen algaered algae

Derivatives

algalalgologyalgologist

Synonyms

seaweedphytoplanktonpond scum

Commonly confused

alga
EN: 'Alga' is the singular form referring to one organism; 'algae' is the plural form, though it is often mistakenly used as a singular in everyday speech.

Spelling tips

EN: The singular is 'alga' and the plural is 'algae' (Latin pattern). A common error is treating 'algae' as singular (e.g., 'the algae is' instead of 'the algae are' in formal/scientific writing), though mass-noun usage is accepted in informal contexts.

💬 Examples

  1. The pond was covered in a thick layer of green algae.