biological
Americanadjective
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Biology. Also biologic relating to the science and application of biology.
Ideal candidates will have appropriate training in both physical and biological chemistry.
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Biology. relating to or involving living matter.
Liquid nitrogen is critical for preserving blood, tissue, and other biological specimens.
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Biology. relating to the living organisms of a region.
We are hoping to manage the river valley so that we maintain and enhance the current level of biological diversity.
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Biology, Genetics. related genetically, as a birth parent whose egg or sperm contributed to the DNA of a child.
He met his biological father when he was 37.
The Greenes have two biological sons and one adopted daughter.
noun
adjective
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of or relating to biology
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(of a detergent) containing enzymes said to be capable of removing stains of organic origin from items to be washed
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of biological
Explanation
When you use the word biological, you're talking about life and living things. You'll recognize the root "bio-," meaning "life," as in biography — the story of someone's life — and biology — the study of living organisms. The woman who gave birth to you is your biological mother — she's passed her genes on to you and you're related to her, even if somebody else raised you. Anybody you share genes with is your biological relative. Biological cleaning products make use of natural enzymes, and they're supposed to be safe and non-toxic. On the other hand, biological warfare uses bacteria, viruses, and other naturally occurring poisons to injure and kill people.
Vocabulary lists containing biological
It's All in the Family
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Unit 3: Compelling Evidence
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The Double Helix
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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.
“This book is a guy saying, ‘I don’t want to be like my biological father,’” he said.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 1, 2026
The loss of dark sky has been found to disrupt the biological clocks of humans and animals -- and interfere with ecosystems.
From Barron's • Jul. 1, 2026
You don’t think 7-foot-4 NBA superstar Victor Wembanyama has biological differences from 6-foot-2 New York Knicks icon Jalen Brunson?
From Slate • Jun. 30, 2026
The same pattern appeared across several crops, including maize, tomato, and rapeseed, suggesting this is a widespread biological response rather than something unique to a single plant.
From Science Daily • Jun. 29, 2026
It would be easy to explain his dominance as simply biological.
From "We'll Fly Away" by Bryan Bliss
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.
