English Explanatory Dictionary

ecology

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. The branch of biology dealing with the relationships of organisms with their environment and with each other.
  2. Any study of the relationships of components of a system with their environment and with each other.
  3. The totality or pattern of relationships of components of a system with their environment and with each other.

Pronunciation

/ɪˈkɒl.ə.d͡ʒi/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-ecology.wav /ɪˈkɑ.lə.d͡ʒi/ /iˈkɑ.lə.d͡ʒi/ /ɪˈkɔl.ə.d͡ʒi/ /əˈkɒl.ə.d͡ʒi/ [əˈkɔ̟l.ə.d͡ʒi]

Word forms

ecology ecologies oecology œcology

Etymology

Calque of German Ökologie (coined in 1866 by Ernst Haeckel), from Ancient Greek οἶκος (oîkos, “house”) + -λογία (-logía, “study of”). By surface analysis, eco- + -logy.

Related words

ecology block

Derived words

aeroecology agroecology anthecology arcology astroecology autecology bioecology chemical ecology chemoecology chronoecology cultural ecology deep ecology dendroecology eco- ecological ecologism ecologist ecology block ecosophy ecosystem ecotribe ethnoecology geoecology human ecology hydroecology immunoecology macroecology microecology myrmecology neuroecology paleoecology pedoecology photoecology physioecology psychoecology radioecology restoration ecology socioecology synecology zooecology
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