biological

or bi·o·log·ic

[ bahy-uh-loj-i-kuh l or bahy-uh-loj-ik ]

/ ˌbaɪ əˈlɒdʒ ɪ kəl or ˌbaɪ əˈlɒdʒ ɪk /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR biological ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

pertaining to biology.

of or relating to the products and operations of applied biology: a biological test.

noun

Pharmacology. any substance, as a serum or vaccine, derived from animal products or other biological sources and used to treat or prevent disease.

Nearby words

biol., biolinguistics, biologic, biologic assay, biologic evolution, biological, biological accumulation, biological child, biological clock, biological control, biological engineering

Origin of biological

First recorded in 1855–60; biolog(y) + -ical

Related forms

bi·o·log·i·cal·ly, adverbnon·bi·o·log·i·cal, adjectivenon·bi·o·log·i·cal·ly, adverbpseu·do·bi·o·log·i·cal, adjective

pseu·do·bi·o·log·i·cal·ly, adverbsem·i·bi·o·log·ic, adjectivesem·i·bi·o·log·i·cal, adjectivesem·i·bi·o·log·i·cal·ly, adverbun·bi·o·log·i·cal, adjectiveun·bi·o·log·i·cal·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for biologic

“Nobody has raised anything specific about biologic weapons in Syria, certainly not in any official context here,” he added.
Western Intelligence Suspects Assad Has a Secret Chemical Stockpile|Noah Shachtman, Christopher Dickey|May 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But these chemicals really are more like examples of biologic warfare, not chemical warfare.
Sarin, Nitrogen Mustard, Cyanide & More: All About Chemical Weapons|Kent Sepkowitz|August 26, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The lumber industry is beginning to find that there are biologic laws.
Adequate Preparation for the Teacher of Biological Sciences in Secondary Schools|James Daley McDonald
In no branch of natural history are biologic studies more easily carried on, or the biologic facts more remarkable or interesting.
Directions for Collecting and Preserving Insects|C. V. Riley

It is not impossible that relative nearness to the sun may be an advantage to Venus from the biologic point of view.
Other Worlds|Garrett P. Serviss
Biologic studies have of late made clearer the existence and continuation of the inequality of talents.
The Principles of Economics|Frank A. Fetter
The opening sentence refers to the biologic extinction of the herd as contrasted with its commercial ruin.
Appletons' Popular Science Monthly, March 1899|Various

British Dictionary definitions for biologic

biological

archaic biologic

/ (ˌbaɪəˈlɒdʒɪkəl) /

adjective

of or relating to biology

(of a detergent) containing enzymes said to be capable of removing stains of organic origin from items to be washed

noun

(usually plural) a drug, such as a vaccine, that is derived from a living organism

Derived Forms

biologically, adverb

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

Medicine definitions for biologic (1 of 2)

biologic

[ bī′ə-lŏj′ĭk ]

n.

A preparation, such as a drug, a vaccine, or an antitoxin, that is synthesized from living organisms or their products and used as a diagnostic, preventive, or therapeutic agent.

Medicine definitions for biologic (2 of 2)

biological

[ bī′ə-lŏj′ĭ-kəl ]

adj.

Of, relating to, caused by, or affecting life or living organisms.

Having to do with biology.

Related by blood, as in a child's biological parents.