Oligotrophic
/ˌɒlɪɡəˈtrɒfɪk/noun
Describing a body of water or environment that contains very few nutrients and therefore supports relatively little biological growth.
Did you know?Its second root comes from Ancient Greek trephein, “to nourish,” the same root behind atrophy and dystrophy—words describing bodies or tissues deprived of normal growth.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*oligos
“Few or little; a small number”
Ancient Greek
Greek
olígos
“Little, scanty, or few”
Ancient Greek
Greek
trophḗ
“Nourishment, food, or the act of feeding”
19th Century
Scientific Greek
oligotrophía
“A condition of scant nourishment”
Early 20th Century
Scientific English
oligotrophic
“Poorly nourished; containing few nutrients”
Modern English
English
oligotrophic
“Characterized by nutrient-poor conditions and limited biological productivity”