n. The collection of organisms, such as algae and bacteria, that live on the surface of submerged plants and other underwater objects. [New Latin, from Greek periphuton, from neuter sing. of periphutos, planted all over, from periphuein, to grow around, cling to : peri-, peri- + phuein, to grow; see bheuə- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
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