Diatom
Pronunciation : Di"a*tom
Part of Speech : n.
Etymology : [Gr. Diatomous.]
Definition : 1. (Bot.)
Defn: One of the Diatomace?, a family of minute unicellular Alg? having a siliceous covering of great delicacy, each individual multiplying by spontaneous division. By some authors diatoms are called Bacillari?, 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.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913