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-biosis

  1. a combining form meaning “mode of life,” used in the formation of compound words.

    aerobiosis; parabiosis.



-biosis

combining form

  1. indicating a specified mode of life

    symbiosis

“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
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Other Word Forms

  • -biotic combining form
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Word History and Origins

Origin of -biosis1

< Greek bíōsis, equivalent to biō-, verbid stem of bioûn to live + -sis -sis; anabiosis, symbiosis, on which subsequent coinages were probably modeled
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Word History and Origins

Origin of -biosis1

New Latin, from Greek biōsis ; see bio- , -osis
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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.

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When To Use

What does -biosis mean?

The combining form -biosis is used like a suffix meaning “mode of life.” It is often used in scientific terms, especially in biology.The form -biosis comes from Greek bíōsis, meaning “state of living.” The Latin cognate of bíōsis is vivere, “to live,” which is the source of words such as survive, vivacity, and vivid. Find out more at our entry for each word.What are variants of -biosis?Although -biosis has no variants, it shares an origin with the combining forms bio- and -biont. Want to learn more? Check out our Words That Use articles for bio- and -biont.

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biosimilarbiosocial