oligo-

views updated May 08 2018

oligo- From the Greek oligos meaning ‘small’ and oligoi meaning ‘few’, a prefix meaning few or small; in ecology it is often used to denote a lack, e.g. ‘oligotrophic’ meaning ‘nutrient-poor’ and ‘oligomictic’ meaning ‘subject to little mixing’.

A Dictionary of Earth Sciences AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY

oligo-

views updated Jun 11 2018

oligo- A prefix meaning few or small, derived from the Greek oligos, meaning ‘small’ or (oligoi) ‘few’; in ecology it is often used to denote a lack, e.g. oligotrophic, nutrient-poor; oligomictic, subject to little mixing.

A Dictionary of Plant Sciences MICHAEL ALLABY

oligo-

views updated Jun 11 2018

oligo- From the Greek oligos, meaning ‘small’ or (oligoi) ‘few’, a prefix meaning few or small; in ecology it is often used to denote a lack (e.g. oligotrophic, nutrient-poor; oligomictic, subject to little mixing).

A Dictionary of Ecology MICHAEL ALLABY

oligo-

views updated May 17 2018

oligo- From the Greek oligos, ‘little’, a prefix meaning few or small; in ecology it is often used to denote a lack, e.g. ‘oligotrophic’, nutrient-poor; ‘oligomictic’, subject to little mixing.

A Dictionary of Zoology MICHAEL ALLABY