English Explanatory Dictionary

organism

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A discrete and complete living thing, such as animal, plant, fungus or microorganism.
  2. Something with many separate interdependent parts, seen as being like a living thing; an organic system.
  3. The fact of being organic; organicity.

Pronunciation

ôr′gə-nĭz'əm /ˈɔː.ɡəˌnɪz.əm/ en-us-organism.ogg /ɔʳˈɡan.ɪzəm/

Word forms

organism organisms

Etymology

First attested in 1701; from organ + -ism, from Ancient Greek ὄργανον (órganon, “a tool, instrument”), from Proto-Indo-European *werǵ- (“work”). Compare New Latin organismus.

Synonyms

organism being biont

Derived words

bioorganism biorg cybernetic organism cyborg epiorganism fastidious organism macroorganism macro-organism metaorganism micro-organism model-organism model organism multiorganism mycoplasma-like organism nonorganism organismal organismic organismically orgone paleo-organism pleuropneumonia-like organism proto-organism protoorganism super organism superorganism supraorganism Vincent's organism

Translations

Belarusian: аргані́зм Bulgarian: органи́зъм Catalan: organisme Chinese Mandarin: 生物 Chinese Mandarin: 有機體 /有机体 Finnish: organismi Galician: organismo Italian: organismo Japanese: 有機体 Korean: 유기체 Malay: organisma Māori: rauropi Portuguese: organismo Russian: органи́зм Spanish: organismo Swedish: organism Turkish: organizma Ukrainian: органі́зм
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