1. A single-celled green alga of the family Desmidiaceae, typically found in freshwater and characterized by a cell wall divided into two symmetrical halves.
Usage: biology; technical

Examples

• Desmids are common in ponds and lakes with acidic water.
• The biologist observed desmids under the microscope during the ecology lab.
• Desmids play an important role in freshwater ecosystems as primary producers.
• The symmetrical structure of a desmid cell makes it easy to identify under magnification.
• Students collected water samples to study the diversity of desmids in the local stream.