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 notesIn 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.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
a swarm of krill
krill oil
feed on krill
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Word forms
- Plural
- krills
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Blue whales can eat several tons of _____ in a single day.
Etymology
From Norwegian kril, originally meaning small fry or tiny fish.
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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