1. thriving or preferring to live in very cold environments or at low temperatures
Usage: technical; biology

Examples

• Cryophilic bacteria are found in Arctic ice and deep ocean trenches.
• Scientists study cryophilic organisms to understand how life adapts to extreme cold.
• The cryophilic enzymes in these microbes remain active at temperatures below freezing.
• Certain cryophilic algae produce antifreeze proteins to survive in glacial environments.
• Researchers discovered new cryophilic species during polar expeditions.