/kris"euh fuyt'/ , n.
any algae of the phylum Chrysophyta, comprising the yellow-green algae, golden-brown algae, and diatoms, distinguished by having in various proportions the three pigment groups chlorophyll (green), carotene (yellow), and xanthophyll (brown), and storing food reserves as oil rather than starch.
[ 1955-60; Chrysophyta; see CHRYSO-, -PHYTE ]