Organism

Quick meaning: Organism is a noun meaning (biology) A discrete and complete living thing, such as animal, plant, fungus or microorganism.

Meaning

(biology) A discrete and complete living thing, such as animal, plant, fungus or microorganism.

More Meanings

1. Something with many separate interdependent parts, seen as being like a living thing; an organic system.
2. (obsolete, rare) The fact of being organic; organicity.

Example Sentences

This strategy, known as caloric restriction, has been shown to increase the life span of various organisms and reduce their rate of cancer and other age-related ailments.

For the first time, Edith was aware of the hotel as a well populated organism, its attendants merely resting until an appropriate occasion should summon them to present themselves […].

Plastics are energy-rich substances, which is why many of them burn so readily. Any organism that could unlock and use that energy would do well in the Anthropocene. Terrestrial bacteria and fungi which can manage this trick are already familiar to experts in the field.

Word Forms

• organisms

Synonyms for organism

Depending on context, synonyms include being, biont, life form.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include life form, being, organ, micro-organism, bacterium, microorganism.

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