Definition of Abyssal

1. Adjective. Relating to ocean depths from 2000 to 5000 meters.

Partainyms: Abyssal Zone

2. Adjective. Resembling an abyss in depth; so deep as to be unmeasurable. "The abyssal depths of the ocean"
Exact synonyms: Abysmal, Unfathomable
Similar to: Deep
Derivative terms: Abysm, Abyss

Definition of Abyssal

1. a. Belonging to, or resembling, an abyss; unfathomable.

Definition of Abyssal

1. Adjective. Belonging to, or resembling, an abyss; unfathomable. ¹

2. Adjective. (context: geography) Of or belonging to the ocean depths, especially below 2000 metres (6500 ft): ''abyssal zone'' ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Abyssal

1. abyss [adj] - See also: abyss

Medical Definition of Abyssal

1. Belonging to, or resembling, an abyss; unfathomable. Abyssal zone, one of the belts or zones into which Sir E. Forbes divides the bottom of the sea in describing its plants, animals, etc. It is the one furthest from the shore, embracing all beyond one hundred fathoms deep. Hence, abyssal animals, plants, etc. Origin: Cf. Abysmal. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Abyssal

abydocomist
abydocomists
abye
abyed
abyeing
abyes
abying
abyme
abymes
abys
abysm
abysmal
abysmally
abysms
abyss
abyssal (current term)
abyssal fish
abyssal plain
abyssal zone
abysses
abysslike
abyssomicin
abyssomicins
abyssopelagic
abzyme
abzymes
ac-
acacia gum
acacialike

Literary usage of Abyssal

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Igneous Rocks and Their Origin by Reginald Aldworth Daly (1914)
"CHAPTER IX abyssal INJECTION Introduction.—We have seen that rocks belonging to the gabbro clan are always exotic where they are found among the other ..."

2. Structural and Field Geology for Students of Pure and Applied Science by James Geikie (1905)
"Plutonic or abyssal and Hypabyssal Rocks —their General Petrographical Characters. Batholiths—Granite as a type ; phenomena along line of Junction with ..."

3. Science by American Association for the Advancement of Science (1896)
"Probably the abyssal life-zone was formerly not so extensive as to-day. ... The abyssal may therefore be of relatively recent date. ..."

4. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London by Royal Society (Great Britain) (1883)
"XIV. Researches on the Foraminifera—Supplemental Memoir. On an abyssal type of the Genus ... abyssal ..."

5. The Face of the Earth: (Das Antlitz Der Erde) by Eduard Suess (1906)
"... CHAPTER V PALAEOZOIC SEAS Introduction: The abyssal region; cycles; thickness of the sediments. ..."

6. The Sea and Its Living Wonders: A Popular Account of the Marvels of the Deep by Georg Hartwig (1892)
"... Zonea of Marine Life on the British Coasts, according to the late Professor Edward Forbes of Edinburgh.—abyssal Animals. ..."

7. The Science of Life: An Outline of the History of Biology and Its Recent by John Arthur Thomson (1899)
"Zoo-geographical Regions—Phyto-geographical Regions—Factors in Distribution — The Great Faunas and Floras: Littoral, Pelagial, abyssal, Fluvial, ..."

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