n.
Pronunciation: p ə - ' ri-f ə - ˌ tän
Function: noun
Etymology: New Latin, from Greek periphytos (verbal of periphyein to grow around, from peri- + phyein to bring forth, grow) + -on (as in plankton ) ― more at BE
Date: 1945
: organisms (as some algae) that live attached to underwater surfaces
– peri · phyt · ic \ ˌ per- ə - ' fi-tik \ adjective