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Duckweed: meaning, definitions and examples

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duckweed

 

[ ˈdʌk.wiːd ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

aquatic plant

Duckweed refers to a group of small, floating plants in the family Lemnaceae. These plants are typically found on the surface of still or slow-moving waters such as ponds, lakes, and marshes. Duckweed can reproduce rapidly, creating dense mats that can cover the water's surface, which may lead to reduced sunlight penetration and oxygen levels in the water. It serves as a food source for various aquatic animals and plays an important role in ecosystems by providing habitat and improving water quality.

Synonyms

Lemna, floating fern, water lens

Examples of usage

  • The pond was covered in duckweed, creating a vibrant green carpet.
  • Duckweed is often used in aquaculture as feed for fish.
  • Researchers study duckweed for its potential in wastewater treatment.
  • The duckweed population exploded after the warm summer weather.

Translations

Translations of the word "duckweed" in other languages:

🇵🇹 lenteja d'água

🇮🇳 बत्तख घास

🇩🇪 Entenblume

🇮🇩 rumput bebek

🇺🇦 качиний зелений

🇵🇱 rzeżucha wodna

🇯🇵 ウキクサ

🇫🇷 lentille d'eau

🇪🇸 lenteja de agua

🇹🇷 ördek otu

🇰🇷 오리풀

🇸🇦 عشب البط

🇨🇿 rdesno vodní

🇸🇰 vodná šošovica

🇨🇳 浮萍

🇸🇮 vodna leča

🇮🇸 öndurgarður

🇰🇿 қаз шөбі

🇬🇪 ბატი მწვანე

🇦🇿 ördək otu

🇲🇽 lenteja de agua

Word origin

The term 'duckweed' originates from the Old English word 'duce,' which refers to a duck, with the 'weed' element added to denote its classification as a plant. The association with ducks comes from the fact that these floating plants are often found in habitats frequented by these birds. The family Lemnaceae, to which duckweed belongs, is derived from the Greek 'lemna', showing the plant's long-standing recognition in both scientific and common parlance. Over centuries, duckweed has been observed and used by various cultures, particularly in aquatic agriculture and as a natural filter for nutrient-rich waters. As a result, duckweed has gained attention in contemporary studies for its environmental benefits and potential economic uses, particularly in biofuel production and water purification.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #36,016, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.