metabiosis

[ met-uh-bahy-oh-sis ]

nounBiology.
  1. a mode of living in which one organism is dependent on another for preparation of an environment in which it can live.

Origin of metabiosis

1
First recorded in 1895–1900; meta- + -biosis

Other words from metabiosis

  • met·a·bi·ot·ic [met-uh-bahy-ot-ik], /ˌmɛt ə baɪˈɒt ɪk/, adjective
  • met·a·bi·ot·i·cal·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024