WordGarden.iobiology
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /baɪˈɒlədʒi/
US
- /baɪˈɑlədʒi/
Meanings
Noun
the science of living organisms and life processes
Beyond the definition
Imagine walking through a forest – the towering trees, buzzing insects, scurrying animals… biology is the science dedicated to understanding all of it! It's the study of living things, from the tiniest bacteria to the largest whales. Biologists ask questions like "How do plants grow?" or "Why do birds migrate?" and seek answers through observation and experimentation. You might encounter biology in school, when learning about cells, genetics, or ecosystems.
The word biology comes from the Greek words bios (life) and logos (study or discourse), and literally means "the study of life." But it's far more than just memorizing names of plants and animals! Biology is a vast and complex field that explores everything about living organisms – their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and classification.
Think of it as an enormous puzzle. Different branches of biology focus on specific pieces. Zoology studies animals, botany focuses on plants, microbiology investigates microscopic life like bacteria and viruses, and genetics explores how traits are inherited. Ecology looks at how organisms interact with each other and their environment.
You'll encounter biology in many contexts – from understanding your own body (human biology) to developing new medicines (medical biology), conserving endangered species (conservation biology), or even creating sustainable food sources (agricultural biology). It's a field constantly evolving as we uncover more secrets about the incredible diversity and complexity of life on Earth. A biologist might spend their days in a lab analyzing DNA, trekking through rainforests observing wildlife, or developing new technologies to combat disease – all driven by a desire to understand the world around us and within us.
Examples
- 1
School subject
We have biology after lunch on Tuesdays.
- 2
University study
She's studying biology at university.
- 3
Teacher
His biology teacher encouraged him to apply for the summer program.
- 4
Marine science
She switched from chemistry to marine biology in her second year.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Living processes
Researchers are still learning more about the biology of aging.
- Patternthe biology of + process
the living processes and systems involved in it
See also
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- biologynoun
Forms
- biologiespluralnoun