biological English · revision 6084

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1840}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˌbaɪ.əˈlɒdʒ.ɪ.kəl/, US /ˌbaɪ.əˈlɑː.dʒɪ.kəl/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from [[biology]] and the suffix [[-ical]].^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)^(MWU 2024) Biology was borrowed in 1819 from [[de|Biologie]], also used by Lamarck in 1802, from [[grc|βίος|tr=bíos|t=life]] and [[m|grc|-λογία|tr=-logía|t=study]].^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Pertaining to the science of life: 1840 in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) 1859 in the OED and Barnhart;^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) MWU dates its first known use to 1818.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The shorter biologic is from 1850.^(Etymonline) Combinations such as ''biological assay'' are from 1897 in the OED,^(OED 1989) and the noun biological, a drug or other product made from living organisms, chiefly in the plural after ''chemicals'', from 1921.^(OED 1989)^(AHD) ''Biological warfare'' is attested from 1946.^(Etymonline) The ''biological clock'', an innate mechanism regulating the cycles of living things, is from 1955, and only from about 1991 especially of human reproductive urges.^(Etymonline) The sense related by blood, as a ''biological parent'' as opposed to an adoptive one, is in the AHD.^(AHD) A biological detergent contains enzymes said to remove organic stains.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1818 – first known use, according to MWU.^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1840 – of the science of life.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1921 – a biological product, as a noun.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1946 – biological warfare.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1955 – biological clock.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of, relating to, or affecting life or living [[organism|alt=organisms]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Of or relating to [[biology]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Related by blood: ''biological parents''.^(AHD)

+ # Of a [[detergent]], containing [[enzyme|alt=enzymes]].^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A drug or [[vaccine]] made from living organisms or their products.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[biologically]]

+ * [[abiological]]

+ * [[nonbiological]]

+ * [[prebiological]]

+ * [[pseudobiological]]

+ * [[unbiological]]

+ * [[biological control]]

+ * [[biological oxygen demand]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[biology]]

+ * [[biologist]]

+ * [[bio-]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}