biology

[bahy-ol-uh-jee]

noun

1. the science of life or living matter in all its forms and phenomena, especially with reference to origin, growth, reproduction, structure, and behavior.

2. the living organisms of a region.

   the biology of Pennsylvania.

3. the biological phenomena characteristic of an organism or a group of organisms.

   She is studying the biology of worms, especially in regard to their reproductive behavior.

biology

/ baɪˈɒlədʒɪ /

noun

1. the study of living organisms, including their structure, functioning, evolution, distribution, and interrelationships

2. the structure, functioning, etc, of a particular organism or group of organisms

3. the animal and plant life of a particular region

biology

1. The scientific study of life and of living organisms. Botany, zoology, and ecology are all branches of biology.

biology

1. The study of life and living systems.

Other Word Forms

• biologist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of biology¹

From the German word Biologie, dating back to 1805–15. See bio-, -logy

Example Sentences

Prof Wallace chose it automatically because certain strains of E. coli that aren't pathogenic are used extensively in biotechnology and engineering biology laboratories to test whether something might work.

From BBC

Last week Qualifications Wales paused the most controversial part of the original shake-up plans, which was to scrap separate science GCSEs in biology, chemistry and physics from September 2026.

From BBC

The supplement's impact on male athletes has been documented since the early 1990s but, as with a lot of scientific research, female biology was missing from the equation.

From BBC

Winners in categories from literature to biology were recognised at a ceremony at Boston University on Thursday.

From BBC

Of Yemeni and Syrian heritage, Al-Shamahi grew up in Birmingham, England; earned degrees in evolutionary biology and taxonomy and biodiversity from Imperial College London and was named a National Geographic Emerging Explorer in 2015.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• anthropology 
• biological science www.thesaurus.com
• ecology 
• environmental science 
• medicine 
• natural science 
• zoology