Meaning & use
spirulina
Last updated
Meanings
noununcountable
A blue-green microscopic organism that grows in water and is dried into a protein-rich powder or tablets used as a health supplement.
Grammar: Uncountable: a spoonful of spirulina, not a spirulina.
Patterns
- spirulina powder
- a spoonful of spirulina
She stirs a spoonful of spirulina into her morning smoothie.
Spirulina turns drinks a deep green color.
The health store sells spirulina in both powder and tablet form.
noununcountablebiologytechnical
The genus of cyanobacteria, grown in ponds or tanks, from which this supplement comes.
Grammar: Used as a biology term, often in scientific text.
Patterns
- spirulina grown in something
Spirulina thrives in warm, alkaline lakes.
Researchers are testing spirulina as a future food source.
The farm grows spirulina in shallow tanks under the sun.
Common combinations
- spirulina powder
- Spirulina powder tastes quite strong, so mix it with fruit.
- spirulina smoothie
- I made a spirulina smoothie with banana and mango.
- spirulina supplement
- He takes a spirulina supplement every morning.
- organic spirulina
- Organic spirulina costs more than the regular kind.
- add spirulina
- Add spirulina to the soup just before serving.
Synonyms and how they differ
- blue-green algae
- Blue-green algae is a broader, plainer name that includes many species, while spirulina is one particular kind eaten as a supplement.
- cyanobacteria
- Cyanobacteria is the scientific class of these organisms, and spirulina is one member of it.
- chlorella
- Chlorella is a different green algae supplement, so it is a related product, not a synonym.
Word family
- Arthrospira noun
- the scientific genus name often linked with spirulina
- algae noun
- simple water plants or plant-like organisms
- supplement noun
- something taken to add nutrients to a diet
Commonly confused: spirulina or chlorella?
spirulina vs chlorella
Chlorella is another green algae sold as a supplement but is a different organism from spirulina.
Practice
Which describes spirulina?
Choose one answer.
Spirulina is a blue-green microorganism sold as a supplement. The others are unrelated foods.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “spirulina”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.