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biodegradable

[bahy-oh-di-grey-duh-buh l]
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adjective
  1. capable of decaying through the action of living organisms: biodegradable paper; biodegradable detergent.
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Origin of biodegradable

First recorded in 1960–65; bio- + degrade + -able
Related formsbi·o·de·grad·a·bil·i·ty, nounnon·bi·o·de·grad·a·ble, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
British Dictionary definitions for biodegradable

biodegradable

adjective
  1. (of sewage constituents, packaging material, etc) capable of being decomposed by bacteria or other biological means
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Derived Formsbiodegradation (ˌbaɪəʊˌdɛɡrəˈdeɪʃən), nounbiodegradability (ˌbaɪəʊˌdɛɡreɪdɪˈbɪlɪtɪ), noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for biodegradable

adj.

also bio-degradable, 1960, from bio- + degrade + -able.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
biodegradable in Medicine

biodegradable

(bī′ō-dĭ-grā′də-bəl)
adj.
  1. Capable of being decomposed by biological agents, especially bacteria.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
biodegradable in Science

biodegradable

[bī′ō-dĭ-grā′də-bəl]
  1. Capable of being decomposed by the action of biological agents, especially bacteria.
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
biodegradable in Culture

biodegradable

[(beye-oh-di-gray-duh-buhl)]

Material that, left to itself, will be decomposed by natural processes.

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Note

The use of biodegradable packaging is supposed to reduce the volume of waste in landfills.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.