biological

Meanings

1. 1adjectivebefore a noun

   Connected with living things and the processes that happen inside them, or with the science that studies them.

   Grammar: Usually comes before a noun: biological processes, not 'the process is biological' in most uses.

   Patterns

   • biological process
   • biological research

   Digestion is a biological process that begins in the mouth.

   The lab studies the biological effects of pollution on rivers.

   Sleep is a basic biological need.

2. 2adjectivebefore a noun

   Related to someone by birth and shared genes, rather than through adoption, marriage, or the way they were raised.

   Grammar: Used before family words: her biological mother, not an adoptive one.

   Patterns

   • someone's biological mother
   • biological child of someone

   She met her biological father for the first time at thirty.

   They raised two adopted children and one biological child.

   He never knew his biological parents.

3. 3adjectivebefore a nountechnical

   Using living organisms or the substances they produce, rather than chemicals or machines.

   Grammar: Used before nouns such as weapon, control or agent: biological pest control.

   Patterns

   • biological control
   • biological weapon

   Farmers released ladybugs as a biological control for aphids.

   Treaties ban the use of biological weapons.

   Some detergents contain biological enzymes that break down stains.

Common combinations

biological parent

A biological parent may not be the one who raised the child.

biological process

Aging is a natural biological process.

biological clock

Jet lag upsets the body's biological clock.

biological weapon

The agreement bans any biological weapon.

biological diversity

The reserve protects biological diversity.

Synonyms and how they differ

organic

Organic often means grown without synthetic chemicals, while biological is about life itself or about genetic relationship.

genetic

Genetic focuses on genes and inheritance, whereas biological is broader and covers all life processes.

Opposites

Word family

biology noun

the science of living things

biologist noun

a scientist who studies living things

biologically adverb

in a way connected with biology

biodegradable adjective

able to be broken down by living organisms

Commonly confused: biological or biographical?

Practice

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