eutrophic

adjective

eu·​tro·​phic yü-ˈtrō-fik How to pronounce eutrophic (audio)
of a body of water
: characterized by the state resulting from eutrophication compare mesotrophic, oligotrophic
eutrophy noun

Examples of eutrophic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Lakes in Switzerland have become eutrophic—poor in oxygen due to excessive algal growth facilitated by agricultural runoff. Richard Pallardy, Ars Technica, 30 July 2024 Because unrestored eutrophic lakes produce significant methane emissions, restoring lakes and recycling the sediments for agriculture could mean a net decrease in greenhouse gases reaching the atmosphere on an ecosystem scale, Kiani says. Bychristian Elliott, science.org, 2 May 2023 But by the 1990s, the lake’s eutrophic conditions were leading to mass die-offs of fish and birds. Ian Jamesstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2022 The stated goal is to fix the 150-square-mile lake that has become a eutrophic soup filled with invasive organisms after a century of neglect. Brian Maffly, The Salt Lake Tribune, 17 Aug. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'eutrophic.' 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

probably from German Eutroph eutrophic, from Greek eutrophos well-nourished, nourishing, from eu- + trephein to nourish

First Known Use

1928, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of eutrophic was in 1928

Dictionary Entries Near eutrophic

Cite this Entry

“Eutrophic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eutrophic. Accessed 7 Oct. 2024.

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