English Lexicon

Aphotic zone

/eɪˈfɒt.ɪk zoʊn/
nounCEFR C1 (Advanced)Top #45200 frequency
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2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    The portion of a lake or ocean where there is little or no sunlight, typically receiving less than 1% of surface sunlight and precluding photosynthesis.

    "Many deep-sea organisms living in the aphotic zone have developed bioluminescence to attract prey and communicate."
  2. 2

    The layer of a body of water extending from the base of the photic zone to the bottom.

    "Conditions in the aphotic zone include near-freezing temperatures and immense hydrostatic pressure."

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Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

Derived from the Greek prefix 'a-' meaning 'without', 'phōt-' meaning 'light', combined with the Latin 'zona' and Greek 'zōnē' meaning 'belt or girdle'. The scientific compound emerged in the late 19th century within marine biology and oceanography to denote the subterranean or deep ocean strata lacking solar illumination.

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