1. A large group of single-celled marine organisms (protists) that have two flagella and are important components of plankton.
Usage: plural form; singular is dinoflagellate; biology/marine science term; commonly studied in oceanography and ecology

Examples

• Dinoflagellates are a major part of the ocean's phytoplankton and form the base of many marine food webs.
• Some species of dinoflagellates produce bioluminescence, creating glowing waves at night.
• Red tides are often caused by rapid blooms of dinoflagellates in coastal waters.
• Marine biologists study dinoflagellates to understand ocean productivity and climate change.
• The two flagella of dinoflagellates allow them to move through the water column.
• Dinoflagellates contain chlorophyll and can photosynthesize like plants.