pelagic-zone
/pəˈlædʒ.ɪk zəʊn/ IELTSAcademic
noun
The open part of the ocean away from the shore and the sea bottom. It includes the water column where many fish, whales, and plankton live.
- Swordfish live in the pelagic zone.
- Scientists study life in the pelagic zone.
- The pelagic zone can be very deep.
Adinary Nuance
Pelagic zone is more specific than ocean or sea. It means the open-water area, not the coast, beach, or seafloor. It is different from deep sea, which focuses on great depth rather than the open water itself. Writers use pelagic zone in science or geography, not in everyday conversation.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- vùng biển khơi
- Spanish
- zona pelágica
- Chinese
- 远洋带
- Japanese
- 遠洋帯
- Korean
- 원양대
Etymology
Pelagic comes from Greek pelagios, from pelagos meaning 'sea'. Zone comes from Greek zōnē, meaning 'belt'. In English, the term has been used in ocean science for a long time.
Common phrases
in the pelagic zonepelagic-zone speciespelagic-zone animals
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is pelagic zone the same as deep sea?
- Not exactly. Pelagic zone means open water, while deep sea means very deep water.
- Is pelagic zone a common everyday phrase?
- No. It is mostly used in science, geography, and marine biology.
- What is the difference between pelagic zone and benthic zone?
- Pelagic zone is the open water. Benthic zone is the sea floor.