organic

English Online Dictionary. What means organic‎? What does organic mean?

English

Alternative forms

• organick (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle English organic, organik, from Old French organique, from Latin organicus.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ɔːˈɡænɪk/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ɔɹˈɡænɪk/
• Rhymes: -ænɪk

Adjective

organic (comparative more organic, superlative most organic)

1. (biology) Pertaining to or derived from living organisms. [from 1778]
2. (physiology, medicine) Pertaining to an organ of the body of a living organism.
3. (chemistry) Relating to the compounds of carbon, relating to natural products.
4. (agriculture) Of food or food products, grown in an environment free from artificial agrichemicals, and possibly certified by a regulatory body. [from 1942]
5. (sociology) Describing a form of social solidarity theorized by Emile Durkheim that is characterized by voluntary engagements in complex interdependencies for mutual benefit (such as business agreements), rather than mechanical solidarity, which depends on ascribed relations between people (as in a family or tribe).
6. (military) Of a military unit or formation, or its elements, belonging to a permanent organization (in contrast to being temporarily attached).
7. Instrumental; acting as instruments of nature or of art to a certain destined function or end.
8. (Internet, of search results) Generated according to the ranking algorithms of a search engine, as opposed to paid placement by advertisers.
9. Developing in a gradual or natural fashion.

10. Harmonious; coherent; structured.

Coordinate terms

• (chemistry): inorganic

Derived terms

Related terms

• organicity

Translations

Noun

organic (plural organics)

1. (chemistry) An organic compound.
2. An organic food.
3. (science fiction) A living organism, as opposed to a robot or hologram.

Translations

See also

• inorganic

References

• “organic”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.
• organic in Keywords for Today: A 21st Century Vocabulary, edited by The Keywords Project, Colin MacCabe, Holly Yanacek, 2018.
• "organic" in Raymond Williams, Keywords (revised), 1983, Fontana Press, page 227.
• “organic”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.

Anagrams

• Goričan, agrocin

Interlingua

Adjective

organic (not comparable)

1. organic (pertaining to organs)

Related terms

• organo

Middle English

Alternative forms

• organice, organik, organys, organise

Etymology

Borrowed from Old French organique, borrowed itself from Latin organicus. Equivalent to organe +‎ -ik.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɔrˈɡaniːk/, /ɔrˈɡaniːs/

Adjective

organic

1. Resembling or functioning like an organ; composed of distinct divisions.
2. (rare) Positioned around the neck or nape (used of veins)

Descendants

• English: organic

References

• “organik, adj.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-10-03.

Romanian

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin organicus or French organique.

Adjective

organic m or n (feminine singular organică, masculine plural organici, feminine and neuter plural organice)

1. organic (all meanings)

Declension