Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for

ecology

[ ih-kol-uh-jee, ee-kol- ]

noun

plural ecologies
  1. the branch of biology dealing with the relations and interactions between organisms and their environment, including other organisms.
  2. the set of relationships existing between organisms and their environment:

    Inflowing rivers introduce nutrients and sediments that are important for the ecology of the lake.

  3. the set of relationships existing between any complex system and its surroundings or environment:

    In the ecology of healthcare, both politics and technology play a key role.

  4. Also called human ecology. the branch of sociology concerned with the spacing and interdependence of people and institutions.
  5. advocacy for the protection of natural resources from pollution or its effects; environmentalism.


ecology

/ ɪˈɒəɪ /

noun

  1. the study of the relationships between living organisms and their environment
  2. the set of relationships of a particular organism with its environment
  3. the study of the relationships between human groups and their physical environment
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

ecology

  1. The scientific study of the relationships between living things and their environments.
  2. Also called bionomics
  3. A system of such relationships within a particular environment.

ecology

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

Derived Forms

  • ˈDZDz, noun
Discover More

Other Word Forms

  • ··Dz·· [ek-, uh, -, loj, -i-k, uh, l, ee-k, uh, -], ··Dz· adjective
  • ··Dz···ly adverb
  • ·DZ·· noun
  • un···Dz·· adjective
  • un···Dz···ly adverb
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of ecology1

First recorded in 1870–75; earlier oecology, from German ÖDZDz, from Greek î(Dz) “house, dwelling” + -o- + German -logie -logy; term introduced by E. H. Haeckel (1834–1919)
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of ecology1

C19: from German ÖDZDz, from Greek oikos house (hence, environment)
Discover More

Synonym Study

Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

A conservation manager for the Dorset-based Butterfly Conservation, Steven Lofting, said the new method "has the potential to change our understanding of their biology, distribution, abundance and ecology. It's really exciting."

From

For the understudied birds, we often lack basic information on their ecology.

From

Scores of wild burros are trampling the ecology of Big Bear Valley and putting motorists at risk.

From

On an almost daily basis, we learned about the shape of virus evolution, details of disease ecology, and previously unknown vagaries of human pathophysiology.

From

Developer Springfield Properties said it was a responsible housebuilder, adding that it would be guided by an ecology survey during construction.

From

Advertisement

Related Words

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


ecologistecomanagement