BIOLOGY

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does biology mean? 

• BIOLOGY (noun)
  The noun BIOLOGY has 3 senses:

1. the science that studies living organisms

2. characteristic life processes and phenomena of living organisms

3. all the plant and animal life of a particular region

  Familiarity information: BIOLOGY used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BIOLOGY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The science that studies living organisms

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

biological science; biology

Hypernyms ("biology" is a kind of...):

bioscience; life science (any of the branches of natural science dealing with the structure and behavior of living organisms)

Domain member category:

cell ((biology) the basic structural and functional unit of all organisms; they may exist as independent units of life (as in monads) or may form colonies or tissues as in higher plants and animals)

culture ((biology) the growing of microorganisms in a nutrient medium (such as gelatin or agar))

monad ((biology) a single-celled microorganism (especially a flagellate protozoan))

homogeny ((biology) similarity because of common evolution)

isomorphism; isomorphy ((biology) similarity or identity of form or shape or structure)

heterology ((biology) the lack of correspondence of apparently similar body parts)

valence; valency ((biology) a relative capacity to unite or react or interact as with antigens or a biological substrate)

coarctation ((biology) a narrowing or constriction of a vessel or canal; especially a congenital narrowing of the aorta)

spindle ((biology) tiny fibers that are seen in cell division; the fibers radiate from two poles and meet at the equator in the middle)

meme (a cultural unit (an idea or value or pattern of behavior) that is passed from one person to another by non-genetic means (as by imitation))

cell doctrine; cell theory ((biology) the theory that cells form the fundamental structural and functional units of all living organisms; proposed in 1838 by Matthias Schleiden and by Theodor Schwann)

evolutionism; theory of evolution; theory of organic evolution ((biology) a scientific theory of the origin of species of plants and animals)

theory of inheritance ((biology) a theory of how characteristics of one generation are derived from earlier generations)

cybernetics ((biology) the field of science concerned with processes of communication and control (especially the comparison of these processes in biological and artificial systems))

taxonomy ((biology) study of the general principles of scientific classification)

dendrology (the study of wooden plants)

cataplasia ((biology) degenerative reversion of cells or tissue to a less differentiated or more primitive form)

subkingdom ((biology) a taxonomic group comprising a major division of a kingdom)

variety ((biology) a taxonomic category consisting of members of a species that differ from others of the same species in minor but heritable characteristics)

phylum ((biology) the major taxonomic group of animals and plants; contains classes)

subphylum ((biology) a taxonomic group ranking between a phylum and a class)

superphylum ((biology) a taxonomic group ranking between a phylum and below a class or subclass)

class ((biology) a taxonomic group containing one or more orders)

subclass ((biology) a taxonomic category below a class and above an order)

superclass ((biology) a taxonomic class below a phylum and above a class)

order ((biology) taxonomic group containing one or more families)

suborder ((biology) taxonomic group that is a subdivision of an order)

superorder ((biology) a taxonomic group ranking above an order and below a class or subclass)

family ((biology) a taxonomic group containing one or more genera)

superfamily ((biology) a taxonomic group ranking below an order but above a family)

form family ((biology) an artificial taxonomic category for organisms of which the true relationships are obscure)

subfamily ((biology) a taxonomic category below a family)

tribe ((biology) a taxonomic category between a genus and a subfamily)

genus ((biology) taxonomic group containing one or more species)

subgenus ((biology) taxonomic group between a genus and a species)

monotype ((biology) a taxonomic group with a single member (a single species or genus))

type genus ((biology) genus from which the name of a family or subfamily is formed; it is not necessarily the most representative genus but often the largest or best known or earliest described)

form genus ((biology) an artificial taxonomic category for organisms of which the true relationships are obscure)

species ((biology) taxonomic group whose members can interbreed)

race; subspecies ((biology) a taxonomic group that is a division of a species; usually arises as a consequence of geographical isolation within a species)

form; strain; var.; variant ((biology) a group of organisms within a species that differ in trivial ways from similar groups)

type ((biology) the taxonomic group whose characteristics are used to define the next higher taxon)

type species ((biology) the species that best exemplifies the essential characteristics of the genus to which it belongs)

division ((biology) a group of organisms forming a subdivision of a larger category)

biologist; life scientist ((biology) a scientist who studies living organisms)

mutant; mutation; sport; variation ((biology) an organism that has characteristics resulting from chromosomal alteration)

organic phenomenon ((biology) a natural phenomenon involving living plants and animals)

dehiscence ((biology) release of material by splitting open of an organ or tissue; the natural bursting open at maturity of a fruit or other reproductive body to release seeds or spores or the bursting open of a surgically closed wound)

pleomorphism ((biology) the appearance of two or more distinctly different forms in the life cycle of some organisms)

polymorphism ((biology) the existence of two or more forms of individuals within the same animal species (independent of sex differences))

dimorphism ((biology) the existence of two forms of individual within the same animal species (independent of sex differences))

recognition ((biology) the ability of one molecule to attach to another molecule that has a complementary shape)

elan vital; life force; vital force; vitality ((biology) a hypothetical force (not physical or chemical) once thought by Henri Bergson to cause the evolution and development of organisms)

accretion ((biology) growth by addition as by the adhesion of parts or particles)

anisogamy ((biology) reproduction by the union or fusion of two differing gametes (especially differing in size))

apposition ((biology) growth in the thickness of a cell wall by the deposit of successive layers of material)

breakdown; decomposition; putrefaction; rot; rotting ((biology) the process of decay caused by bacterial or fungal action)

evolution; organic evolution; phylogenesis; phylogeny ((biology) the sequence of events involved in the evolutionary development of a species or taxonomic group of organisms)

development; growing; growth; maturation; ontogenesis; ontogeny ((biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level)

intussusception ((biology) growth in the surface area of a cell by the deposit of new particles between existing particles in the cell wall)

isogamy ((biology) reproduction by the union or fusion of gametes of the same size and structure)

osmosis ((biology, chemistry) diffusion of molecules through a semipermeable membrane from a place of higher concentration to a place of lower concentration until the concentration on both sides is equal)

regeneration ((biology) growth anew of lost tissue or destroyed parts or organs)

reproduction (the process of generating offspring)

differentiation; specialisation; specialization ((biology) the structural adaptation of some body part for a particular function)

affinity; phylogenetic relation ((biology) state of relationship between organisms or groups of organisms resulting in resemblance in structure or structural parts)

uncus ((biology) any hook-shaped process or part)

brachium ((biology) a branching or armlike part of an animal)

turgor ((biology) the normal rigid state of fullness of a cell or blood vessel or capillary resulting from pressure of the contents against the wall or membrane)

activator ((biology) any agency bringing about activation; a molecule that increases the activity of an enzyme or a protein that increases the production of a gene product in DNA transcription)

medium ((biology) a substance in which specimens are preserved or displayed)

multiply; procreate; reproduce (have offspring or produce more individuals of a given animal or plant)

propagate (multiply sexually or asexually)

vegetate (propagate asexually)

enucleate (remove the nucleus from (a cell))

transform (change (a bacterial cell) into a genetically distinct cell by the introduction of DNA from another cell of the same or closely related species)

conjugate (undergo conjugation)

copy; replicate (reproduce or make an exact copy of)

inhibit (limit, block, or decrease the action or function of)

abaxial; dorsal (facing away from the axis of an organ or organism)

adaxial; ventral (nearest to or facing toward the axis of an organ or organism)

antrorse (bent or curved forward or upward)

retrorse (bent or curved backward or downward)

semiaquatic; subaquatic (partially aquatic; living or growing partly on land and partly in water)

subaquatic; subaqueous; submerged; submersed; underwater (growing or remaining under water)

amphibiotic; semiaquatic (having an aquatic early or larval form and a terrestrial adult form)

sessile; stalkless (attached directly by the base; not having an intervening stalk)

pedunculate; stalked (having or growing on or from a peduncle or stalk)

sessile (permanently attached to a substrate; not free to move about)

dormant; hibernating; torpid (in a condition of biological rest or suspended animation)

glabrous (having no hair or similar growth; smooth)

canescent; hoary (covered with fine whitish hairs or down)

downy; puberulent; pubescent; sericeous (covered with fine soft hairs or down)

pilary; pilose; pilous (covered with hairs especially fine soft ones)

tomentose; tomentous (densely covered with short matted woolly hairs)

tetramerous (having or consisting of four similar parts; tetramerous flowers)

binuclear; binucleate; binucleated (having two nuclei)

mononuclear; mononucleate (having only one nucleus)

trinuclear; trinucleate; trinucleated (having three nuclei)

formative (capable of forming new cells and tissues)

diurnal (of or belonging to or active during the day)

nocturnal (belonging to or active during the night)

myrmecophilous (living symbiotically with ants)

symbiotic (used of organisms (especially of different species) living together but not necessarily in a relation beneficial to each)

free-living; nonparasitic; nonsymbiotic (not parasitic on another organism)

rudimentary; vestigial (not fully developed in mature animals)

plumate; plumed; plumose (having an ornamental plume or feathery tuft)

acephalous (lacking a head or a clearly defined head)

alpine (living or growing above the timber line)

homologous (having the same evolutionary origin but not necessarily the same function)

homologic; homological (similar in evolutionary origin but not in function)

heterologic; heterological; heterologous (not corresponding in structure or evolutionary origin)

analogous (corresponding in function but not in evolutionary origin)

cernuous; drooping; nodding; pendulous; weeping (having branches or flower heads that bend downward)

ventricose; ventricous (having a swelling on one side)

in vivo (of a biological process occurring within a living organism)

male (being the sex (of plant or animal) that produces gametes (spermatozoa) that perform the fertilizing function in generation)

female (being the sex (of plant or animal) that produces fertilizable gametes (ova) from which offspring develop)

hermaphrodite; hermaphroditic (of animal or plant; having both male female reproductive organs)

versatile (able to move freely in all directions)

epimorphic (characterized by incomplete metamorphosis; having the same number of body segments in successive stages)

metamorphous (produced by metamorphosis)

natural (functioning or occurring in a normal way; lacking abnormalities or deficiencies)

obligate (restricted to a particular condition of life)

facultative (able to exist under more than one set of conditions)

lasting; persistent (retained; not shed)

caducous; shed (shed at an early stage of development)

labile ((chemistry, physics, biology) readily undergoing change or breakdown)

thermolabile ((chemistry, physics, biology) readily changed or destroyed by heat)

capitate (being abruptly enlarged and globose at the tip)

fissiparous (reproducing by fission)

lepidote; leprose; scabrous; scaly; scurfy (rough to the touch; covered with scales or scurf)

differentiated (exhibiting biological specialization; adapted during development to a specific function or environment)

generalised; generalized (not biologically differentiated or adapted to a specific function or environment)

stabile ((chemistry, physics, biology) resistant to change)

stomatous (having a mouth or mouthlike opening)

astomatous; mouthless (having no mouth or mouthlike opening)

geniculate (bent at a sharp angle)

actinomorphic; actinomorphous (capable of division into symmetrical halves by any longitudinal plane passing through the axis)

bilaterally symmetrical; zygomorphic; zygomorphous (capable of division into symmetrical halves by only one longitudinal plane passing through the axis)

sympatric ((of biological species or speciation) occurring in the same or overlapping geographical areas)

allopatric ((of biological species or speciation) occurring in areas isolated geographically from one another)

territorial (displaying territoriality; defending a territory from intruders)

nonterritorial (not displaying territoriality)

compressed; flat (flattened laterally along the whole length (e.g., certain leafstalks or flatfishes))

depressed (flattened downward as if pressed from above or flattened along the dorsal and ventral surfaces)

uniparous (producing only one offspring at a time)

multiparous (producing more than one offspring at a time)

bilocular; biloculate (divided into or containing two cells or chambers)

adnate (of unlike parts or organs; growing closely attached)

connate (of similar parts or organs; closely joined or united)

alar; alary; aliform; wing-shaped (having or resembling wings)

bacillar; bacillary (relating to or produced by or containing bacilli)

cellular (relating to cells)

extracellular (located or occurring outside a cell or cells)

intercellular (located between cells)

intracellular (located or occurring within a cell or cells)

cenogenetic (of or relating to cenogenesis)

palingenetic (of or relating to palingenesis)

commensal (living in a state of commensalism)

generic (relating to or common to or descriptive of all members of a genus)

mental (of or relating to the chin- or liplike structure in insects and certain mollusks)

monotypic (consisting of only one type)

polydactyl; polydactylous (of or relating to a person (or other vertebrate) having more than the normal number of digits)

urceolate (urn-shaped; large below and contracted toward the mouth)

isomorphic; isomorphous (having similar appearance but genetically different)

polymorphic; polymorphous (relating to the occurrence of more than one kind of individual (independent of sexual differences) in an interbreeding population)

nuclear (of or relating to or constituting the nucleus of a cell)

nucleate; nucleated (having a nucleus or occurring in the nucleus)

bionomic; bionomical; ecologic; ecological (of or relating to the science of ecology)

basophilic (staining readily with basic dyes)

systematic; taxonomic; taxonomical (of or relating to taxonomy)

saprobic (living in or being an environment rich in organic matter but lacking oxygen)

katharobic (of living being in an oxygenated environment lacking organic matter)

symbiotically (in a symbiotic manner)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "biology"):

microbiology (the branch of biology that studies microorganisms and their effects on humans)

zoological science; zoology (the branch of biology that studies animals)

sociobiology (the branch of biology that conducts comparative studies of the social organization of animals (including human beings) with regard to its evolutionary history)

radiobiology (the branch of biology that studies the effects of radiation on living organisms)

physiology (the branch of the biological sciences dealing with the functioning of organisms)

palaeobiology; paleobiology (a branch of paleontology that deals with the origin and growth and structure of fossil animals and plants as living organisms)

neurobiology (the branch of biology that deals with the anatomy and physiology and pathology of the nervous system)

morphology (the branch of biology that deals with the structure of animals and plants)

molecular biology (the branch of biology that studies the structure and activity of macromolecules essential to life (and especially with their genetic role))

biogeography (dealing with the geographical distribution of animals and plants)

genetic science; genetics (the branch of biology that studies heredity and variation in organisms)

forestry (the science of planting and caring for forests and the management of growing timber)

astrobiology; exobiology; space biology (the branch of biology concerned with the effects of outer space on living organisms and the search for extraterrestrial life)

embryology (the branch of biology that studies the formation and early development of living organisms)

bionomics; ecology; environmental science (the branch of biology concerned with the relations between organisms and their environment)

cytology (the branch of biology that studies the structure and function of cells)

cryobiology (the branch of biology that studies the effects of low temperatures on living tissues or organs or organisms)

botany; phytology (the branch of biology that studies plants)

Derivation:

biologic; biological (pertaining to biology or to life and living things)

biologist ((biology) a scientist who studies living organisms)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Characteristic life processes and phenomena of living organisms

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural phenomena

Context example:

the biology of viruses

Hypernyms ("biology" is a kind of...):

life (the organic phenomenon that distinguishes living organisms from nonliving ones)

Derivation:

biologic; biological (pertaining to biology or to life and living things)

biologist ((biology) a scientist who studies living organisms)

Sense 3

Meaning:

All the plant and animal life of a particular region

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

Synonyms:

biology; biota

Hypernyms ("biology" is a kind of...):

accumulation; aggregation; assemblage; collection (several things grouped together or considered as a whole)

Meronyms (members of "biology"):

fauna; zoology (all the animal life in a particular region or period)

botany; flora; vegetation (all the plant life in a particular region or period)

Derivation:

biological (pertaining to biology or to life and living things)

 Context examples 

Parasitic roundworm; important research model in animal biology, especially for the genetic and molecular basis of development and behavior.

(Caenorhabditis elegans, NIH CRISP Thesaurus)

Botany; the branch of biology that studies plants.

(Botany, NCI Thesaurus)

The field devoted to applying the techniques of biochemistry, cellular biology, biophysics, and molecular biology to addressing issues related to human beings and the environment.

(Biotechnology, NCI Thesaurus)

This protein may play a role in spermatogenesis and lymphocyte biology.

(CAMPATH-1 Antigen, NCI Thesaurus)

Cancer cell lines are used in research to study the biology of cancer and to test cancer treatments.

(Cancer cell line, NCI Dictionary)

A specialty in biology and medicine focusing on aspects of human parasitology that directly pertains to parasite-induced clinical conditions, including epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis and detection, and prevention and treatment.

(Clinical Parasitology, NCI Thesaurus)

These may include age at diagnosis, stage of cancer, and cancer biology.

(Childhood cancer risk group, NCI Dictionary)

The cell-free system is therefore widely used in cell biology.

(Cell-free System, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

Physics as applied to biological problems; an interdisciplinary science that applies theories and methods of the physical sciences to questions of biology.

(Biophysics, NCI Thesaurus)

The science concerned with phenomena that involve biology, physics, and chemistry principles.

(Biophysical Chemistry, NCI Thesaurus)