biosphere
noun/ˈbaɪəʊˌsfɪə(ɹ)/
Etymology Borrowed from German Biosphäre, coined by Austrian geologist Eduard Suess in 1875. By surface analysis, bio- + -sphere.
1
The part of the Earth and its atmosphere capable of supporting life.
2
The totality of living organisms and their environment.
- Patavig is the second of the Macedon system's giant terrestrial planets, and by far the more interesting. Most of the surface is covered by a vast sea of liquid ammonia, in which a unique aquatic ammonia-based biosphere has developed. While the frozen continents are largely bereft of life, a rich bounty of complex organisms — many larger than a human — flourish in the chilly, toxic seas.2008, BioWare, Mass Effect (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →ISBN, →OCLC, PC, scene: Patavig:
- Derived terms
- abiosphere, biospherian
- Related terms
- biospheric, biospherical
- Hypernyms
- sphere
- Hyponyms
- deep biosphere