n. a microscopic unicellular alga with a siliceous cell-wall, found as plankton and forming fossil deposits. diatomaceous adj.
[ mod.L Diatoma (genus-name) f. Gk diatomos (as DIA-, temno cut) ]
DIATOM
Meaning of DIATOM in English
Concise Oxford English dictionary. Краткий оксфордский словарь английского языка. 2012