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ecological

 - 6 dictionary results

e⋅col⋅o⋅gy

  [i-kol-uh-jee]
Use ecological in a Sentence
–noun
1. the branch of biology dealing with the relations and interactions between organisms and their environment, including other organisms.
2. Also called human ecology. the branch of sociology concerned with the spacing and interdependence of people and institutions.
Also, oecology.

Origin:
1870–75; earlier oecology < G Ökologie < Gk oîk(os) + -o- -o- + G -logie -logy; term introduced by E. H. Haeckel

Related forms:
ec⋅o⋅log⋅i⋅cal  [ek-uh-loj-i-kuhl, ee-kuh-] , ec⋅o⋅log⋅ic, adjective
ec⋅o⋅log⋅i⋅cal⋅ly, adverb
e⋅col⋅o⋅gist, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To ecological
e·col·o·gy   (ĭ-kŏl'ə-jē)   
n.   pl. e·col·o·gies

    1. The science of the relationships between organisms and their environments. Also called bionomics.

    2. The relationship between organisms and their environment.

  2. The branch of sociology that is concerned with studying the relationships between human groups and their physical and social environments. Also called human ecology.

  3. The study of the detrimental effects of modern civilization on the environment, with a view toward prevention or reversal through conservation. Also called human ecology.


[German Ökologie : Greek oikos, house; see weik-1 in Indo-European roots + German -logie, study (from Greek -logiā, -logy).]
ec'o·log'i·cal (ěk'ə-lŏj'ĭ-kəl, ē'kə-), ec'o·log'ic (-ĭk) adj., ec'o·log'i·cal·ly adv., e·col'o·gist n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Cultural Dictionary

ecology

The study of living things, their environment, and the relation between the two.

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

ecology 
1873, coined by Ger. zoologist Ernst Haeckel (1834-1919) as Okologie, from Gk. oikos "house, dwelling place, habitation" (see villa) + -logia "study of." Ecosystem is from 1935. Ecosphere (1953) is the region around a star where conditions allow life-bearing planets to exist.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: ecol·o·gy
Pronunciation: -jE
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural -gies
1 : a branch of scienceconcerned with the interrelationship of organisms and their environments
2 : the totality or pattern of relations between organisms and their environment
3 : HUMAN ECOLOGY —eco·log·i·cal /"E-k&-'läj-i-k&l, "ek-&-/ also eco·log·ic /-ik/ adjective —eco·log·i·cal·ly /-i-k(&-)lE/ adverb
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

ecology e·col·o·gy (ĭ-kŏl'ə-jē)
n.

  1. The branch of science that is concerned with the relationships between organisms and their environments.

  2. The relationship between organisms and their environments.

  3. The study of the detrimental effects of modern civilization on the environment, with a view toward their prevention or reversal through conservation.

ec'o·log'i·cal (ěk'ə-lŏj'ĭ-kəl, ē'kə-) or ec'o·log'ic (-ĭk) adj.
e·col'o·gist n.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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