krill
Americannoun
plural
krillnoun
Etymology
Origin of krill
First recorded in 1905–10, krill is from the Norwegian word kril young fry (of fish)
Explanation
Krill are small crustaceans that resemble shrimp. Hundreds of marine animals rely on krill for food, making them a vital part of the ocean's ecosystem. Krill may be most well-known as the preferred food of baleen whales, which filter the tiny creatures through mouthfuls of sea water. There are actually dozens and dozens of organisms that rely on krill to survive, from birds and fish to penguins, seals, and squid. Krill resemble shrimp, averaging about two inches long. Antarctic krill are one of the world's species with the largest biomass — almost 400 million tons. The Norwegian root, kril, means "small fry of fish."
Vocabulary lists containing krill
Amazing Animals, A-Z
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Amazing Animals, List 3
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Oceanography - Introductory
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But no, Scottish salmon gets its color largely from its diet of shrimp and krill.
From Salon • Feb. 28, 2026
"Phytoplankton are the primary source of food for krill, the microscopic shrimp that are the main source of food in the Southern Ocean for virtually every animal, including penguins, seals, walruses and whales," Falkowski said.
From Science Daily • Jan. 12, 2026
The twilight zone teems with life, including krill, squid, fish, octopus, and delicate jelly-like species.
From Science Daily • Nov. 8, 2025
However, their main food source, krill, is threatened by climate change.
From Barron's • Oct. 12, 2025
They might be simple, down-to-earth statements about navigation, or sources of krill, or limits of territory.
From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
