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biodegradable

[ bahy-oh-di-grey-duh-buhl ]
/ ˌbaɪ oʊ dɪˈgreɪ də bəl /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR biodegradable

adjective

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

OTHER WORDS FROM biodegradable

bi·o·de·grad·a·bil·i·ty, nounnon·bi·o·de·grad·a·ble, adjective

Words nearby biodegradable

biocorrosion, biocybernetics, biocycle, biocytin, biodata, biodegradable, biodegradation, biodegrade, biodeterioration, biodiesel, biodiversification
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to biodegradable

ecological, environmental

British Dictionary definitions for biodegradable

biodegradable
/ (ˌbaɪəʊdɪˈɡreɪdəbəl) /

adjective

(of sewage constituents, packaging material, etc) capable of being decomposed by bacteria or other biological means

Derived forms of biodegradable

biodegradation (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

Medical definitions for biodegradable

biodegradable
[ bī′ō-dĭ-grā′də-bəl ]

adj.

Capable of being decomposed by biological agents, especially bacteria.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Scientific definitions for biodegradable

biodegradable
[ bī′ō-dĭ-grā′də-bəl ]

Capable of being decomposed by the action of biological agents, especially bacteria.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Cultural definitions for biodegradable

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

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

notes for biodegradable

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.