n. [ Gr.
The individual is nothing. He is no more than the diatom, the bit of protoplasm. Mrs. E. Lynn Linton. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. [ See Diatomous. ] consisting of or containing diatoms or their fossils;
(Geol.), a deposit of fine, usually white, siliceous material, composed mainly of the shells of the microscopic plants called
a. [ Pref. di- + atomic. ] (Chem.)
n. a class of marine and freshwater eukaryotic algae comprising the diatoms.
a. [ Gr.