eutrophic

1 of 2

adjective

eu·​tro·​phic yü-ˈtrō-fik 

of a body of water

: characterized by the state resulting from eutrophication compare mesotrophic, oligotrophic

eutrophy

ˈyü-trə-fē 

noun

eutrophy

2 of 2

noun

eu·​tro·​phy ˈyü‧trəfē 

plural -es

1

: healthy nutrition : healthy action of the nutritive functions

2

[probably from German eutrophie, from Greek eutrophia] of a lake : the quality or state of being eutrophic

Examples of eutrophic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

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

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

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

Noun

Greek eutrophia, from eutrophos well nourished, nourishing (from eu- + trophos feeder, from trephein to nourish) + -ia -y

First Known Use

Adjective

1928, in the meaning defined above