diatom
n. புதைபடிவங்களிலும் கடலடியிலும் காணப்படும் ஓர் உயிரணு நுண்பாசி வகை.
Di"a*tom, n. Etym: [Gr. Diatomous.] 1. (Bot.) Defn: One of the Diatomaceæ, a family of minute unicellular Algæ having a siliceous covering of great delicacy, each individual multiplying by spontaneous division. By some authors diatoms are called Bacillariæ, but this word is not in general use. 2. A particle or atom endowed with the vital principle. The individual is nothing. He is no more than the diatom, the bit of protoplasm. Mrs. E. Lynn Linton.