abyssal

English

Etymology

Medieval Latin abyssalis. Compare abyss, abysmal.

Pronunciation

• IPA: /əˈbɪsəl/

Adjective

abyssal (not comparable)

1. Belonging to, or resembling, an abyss; unfathomable.
2. Of or belonging to the ocean depths, especially below 2000 metres (6500 ft): abyssal zone

Translations

belonging to the ocean depths

Bulgarian: дълбоководен (bg) Finnish: abyssaalinen (fi)

Greek: αβυσσαλέος (el) (avyssaléos) m., απειροβαθής (el) (apeirovathís) m., απύθμενος (el) (apýthmenos) m. Spanish: abisal (es)

Derived terms

• abyssally
• abyssal fish
• abyssal plain (physical geography)
• abyssal zone (physical geography)

See also

• byssal

References

• abyssal in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913

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French

Adjective

abyssal m. (f. abyssale, m. plural abyssaux, f. plural abyssales)

1. abyssal

Derived terms

• plaine abyssale