English Lexicon

Extremophile

/ɪkˈstriː.mə.faɪl/
nounCEFR C2 (Proficient)Top #14200 frequency
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Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    An organism that thrives in extreme environmental conditions.

    "Thermophiles are a type of extremophile that can survive in extremely hot environments, such as hot springs."
  2. 2

    A microorganism that can live in conditions that are detrimental to most life forms.

    "Halophiles, which are extremophiles, flourish in highly saline environments like salt flats."

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Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

Derived from the Latin 'extremus' meaning 'outermost or extreme' combined with the Neo-Latin suffix '-phile' from the Greek 'philos' meaning 'loving'. Coined in the late 20th century in microbiology to describe organisms that thrive in physically or geochemically extreme conditions.

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