: any of a genus (Daphnia) of minute freshwater branchiopod crustaceans with biramous antennae used as locomotor organs compare water flea
Examples of daphnia in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The larvae require good water quality and eat live food, like baby brine shrimp, the tiny crustaceans daphnia, and blackworms, which the zoo staff raises.
—
Don Lyman, BostonGlobe.com, 20 Apr. 2023
On the third day, the daphnia were fed to tanks of carp.
—Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 24 Feb. 2012
The larvae feed on tiny crustaceans, like daphnia, initially.
—BostonGlobe.com, 24 Mar. 2021
Don Lyman, BostonGlobe.com, 20 Apr. 2023
On the third day, the daphnia were fed to tanks of carp.
—Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 24 Feb. 2012
The larvae feed on tiny crustaceans, like daphnia, initially.
—BostonGlobe.com, 24 Mar. 2021
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'daphnia.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
New Latin, genus name
First Known Use
1847, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near daphnia
Cite this Entry
“Daphnia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/daphnia. Accessed 5 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
daphnia
noun
daph·nia
ˈdaf-nē-ə 
: any of a genus of tiny water fleas with antennae used for movement
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