Organism - English Definition & Meaning

Definition

An 'organism' is any individual living thing, such as an animal, plant, fungus, or bacterium. It's a complex system of interdependent components working together to maintain life. 🦠 Organisms exhibit characteristics like growth, metabolism, reproduction, and response to stimuli. They range from single-celled bacteria to complex multicellular creatures like humans. It's a unified and self-contained living entity.

Etymology

"Organism" comes from the Greek "organismos," meaning an instrument or tool. This reflects the idea of a living thing as a complex set of interacting parts. The etymology emphasizes the functional integration of living things.

Related Words

Examples

• "A human is a complex organism composed of many organ systems."
• "Bacteria are single-celled organisms that can be found everywhere."
• "Plants are photosynthetic organisms that produce their own food."
• "The scientist studied the organism's behavior in its natural habitat."

Encouragement

Use 'organism' to describe any living thing with a complex internal structure. It's a key term in biology! Explore the incredible diversity of life on Earth! 🚀

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