bio
noun
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bio
1 American
[bahy-oh]
/ ˈbaɪ oʊ /
adjective
-
biological.
a bio control service using praying mantises to reduce the population of garden pests.
bio-
2
American
bio-
1
British
combining form
-
indicating or involving life or living organisms
biogenesis
biolysis
-
indicating a human life or career
biography
biopic
bio
2
British
/ ˈbaɪəʊ /
noun
Usage
What does bio- mean? The combining form bio- is used like a prefix meaning “life.” It is often used in scientific terms, especially in biology. The form bio- comes from Greek bíos, meaning “life.” The Latin cognate of bíos is vīta, “life,” which is the source of words such as vital. Find out more at our entry for vital. What are variants of bio-?When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, bio- becomes bi-, as in biome. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use article for bi-.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of bio1
1945–50; by shortening; as adj., independent use of bio-, taken as a free form
Origin of bio-2
Combining form of Greek bíos life; akin to Latin vīvus living, Sanskrit jīvas. See quick
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Model integrity and security are a concern if government agencies end up using AIs to explore bio- and cyberweapons tech.
From Seattle Times • May 23, 2024
Regulations that rely on static lists struggle to keep pace with fields as fast-moving as bio- and cybersecurity.
From Slate • Mar. 17, 2017
Then, after revealing his fear of bio- or nuclear terrorism, he went on to talk about technology in education.
From Forbes • Jul. 16, 2013
The group plans to open an institute for bio- and neuroengineering in collaboration with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne and the University of Geneva.
From Nature • May 29, 2013
The bio- and psycho-sciences were completely outside his field.
From Naudsonce by Piper, H. Beam
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
