Definition of ECOLOGY

ecology

Meanings

Plural: ecologies

Noun

  • the environment as it relates to living organisms
    • "it changed the ecology of the island"
  • the branch of biology concerned with the relations between organisms and their environment
  • The branch of biology dealing with the relationships of organisms with their environment and with each other.
  • Any study of the relationships of components of a system with their environment and with each other.
  • The totality or pattern of relationships of components of a system with their environment and with each other.

Origin / Etymology

Calque of German Ökologie (coined in 1866 by Ernst Haeckel), from Ancient Greek οἶκος (oîkos, “house”) + -λογία (-logía, “study of”). By surface analysis, eco- + -logy.

Synonyms

bionomics, environmental science

Scrabble Score: 13

ecology is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
ecology is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
ecology is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 15

ecology is a valid Words With Friends word