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noun

krill

krihl

Krill (noun) means Tiny shrimp-like sea creatures that drift in huge swarms and form a key part of the ocean food chain. Example: “Blue whales can eat several tons of krill in a single day.”

noun
1
Tiny shrimp-like sea creatures that drift in huge swarms and form a key part of the ocean food chain.
"Blue whales can eat several tons of krill in a single day."
"The penguins dove repeatedly, feeding on a dense swarm of krill."

How to use krill

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSmall ocean crustaceans that whales, seals, and seabirds rely on for food.

Memory tip

Krill is usually treated as a mass/plural noun — you talk about "a swarm of krill," not "a krill" for one individual.

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Common pairings
a swarm of krill krill oil feed on krill

Word forms

krill plural, krills plural, Krills plural

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Test yourself on “krill” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

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Blue whales can eat several tons of _____ in a single day.

Etymology

From Norwegian kril, originally meaning small fry or tiny fish.

Origin: Norwegian

Rhymes for krill

See all rhymes for krill →

Frequently asked questions

What does “krill” mean?

The word “krill” means tiny shrimp-like sea creatures that drift in huge swarms and form a key part of the ocean food chain. In plain terms, small ocean crustaceans that whales, seals, and seabirds rely on for food.

How do you pronounce “krill”?

“Krill” is pronounced krihl (/kɹɪl/ in IPA).

How do you use “krill” in a sentence?

Here is “krill” used in a sentence: “Blue whales can eat several tons of krill in a single day.”

What part of speech is “krill”?

“Krill” is a noun.

Where does the word “krill” come from?

The word “krill” comes from Norwegian. From Norwegian kril, originally meaning small fry or tiny fish.

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