food web

noun

: the totality of interacting food chains in an ecological community

Examples of food web in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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By creating a kind of prehistoric food web, the researchers placed animals like sea bream (which eat mussels and crustaceans) at the bottom, followed by smaller sharks and extinct toothed whales the size of modern dolphins. Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 11 June 2025 Many biologists say that, without insects, our food web will collapse and humanity will not survive beyond three months. Carl R. Gold, Baltimore Sun, 8 June 2025 Like ecosystems on land, the sea has a complex food web. Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 30 May 2025 This marine snail is a critical protein source not just in the marine food web, but for humans too, many of whom support their families by fishing. Megan Ross, Chicago Tribune, 16 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for food web

Word History

First Known Use

1932, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of food web was in 1932

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Cite this Entry

“Food web.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/food%20web. Accessed 20 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

food web

noun
: the whole group of interacting food chains in an ecological community

More from Merriam-Webster on food web

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