Synonyms

food web

American

[food web] / ˈfud ˌwɛb /

noun

Ecology.

a series of organisms related by predator-prey and consumer-resource interactions; the entirety of interrelated food chains in an ecological community.

food web British

noun

a combination of food chains that integrate to form a network

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

food web Scientific

See under food chain

Etymology

Origin of food web

First recorded in 1960–65

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

These microscopic plants form the foundation of the food web, feeding krill that sustain penguins, seals, and whales.

From Science Daily

Instead, they argue that complex food web dynamics require careful analysis and strong evidence.

From Science Daily

SAR11 bacteria play a central role in ocean carbon cycling, helping regulate how carbon moves through marine food webs.

From Science Daily

These fossils come from the Morrison Formation* in the United States and were used to reconstruct a detailed food web, showing how plants, herbivores, and carnivores were linked through feeding relationships.

From Science Daily

Gray wolves are well known for their powerful influence on land-based food webs, where they help regulate prey populations and shape ecosystems.

From Science Daily

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023