Link Centre Dictionary

organism

or·ga·nism

UK/ˈɔː.ɡə.nɪ.zəm/ US/ˈɔɹ.ɡəˌnɪz.əm/ fairly common

noun

1.

a living thing that has (or can develop) the ability to act or function independently

Synonyms
2.

a system considered analogous in structure or function to a living body

  • “the social organism”

Origin

First attested in 1701; from organ + -ism, from Ancient Greek ὄργανον (órganon, “a tool, instrument”), from Proto-Indo-European *werǵ- (“work”). Compare New Latin organismus.

Phrases

  • cybernetic organism
  • fastidious organism
  • model organism
  • mycoplasma-like organism
  • pleuropneumonia-like organism
  • super organism
  • Vincent's organism

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WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.