Organism

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈɔː.É¡É™n.ɪ.zÉ™m/
• US IPA: /ˈɔɹ.É¡É™n.ɪ.zÉ™m/

Origin

From Ancient Greek ὄργανον ("tool, instrument"), from Proto-Indo-European *werǵ- ("work").

Full definition of organism

Noun

1. (biology) A discrete and complete living thing, such as animal, plant, fungus or microorganism.
• 2013-07-20, Welcome to the plastisphere, 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.
2. (by extension) Any complex thing with properties normally associated with living things.

Hyponyms

Derived terms

• free-living organism
• organismal
• organismic

Anagrams

• moringas
• roamings