organic

adj, noun — 13 senses

organic

adj

UK /ɔːˈɡænɪk/ · CA, US /oɹˈɡænɪk/

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

10 senses
  1. 1Pertaining to or derived from living organisms.
  2. 2Pertaining to an organ of the body of a living organism.
  3. 3Relating to the compounds of carbon, relating to natural…
  4. 4Of food or food products, grown in an environment free…
  5. 5Describing a form of social solidarity theorized by…
  6. 6Of a military unit or formation, or its elements…
  7. 7Instrumental; acting as instruments of nature or of art…
  8. 8Generated according to the ranking algorithms of a…
  9. 9Developing in a gradual or natural fashion.
  10. 10Harmonious; coherent; structured.
1

Biology, Natural sciences Pertaining to or derived from living organisms.

2

Medicine, Physiology, Sciences Pertaining to an organ of the body of a living organism.

3

Chemistry, Natural sciences, Physical sciences Relating to the compounds of carbon, relating to natural products.

4

Agriculture, Business, Lifestyle Of food or food products, grown in an environment free from artificial agrichemicals, and possibly certified by a regulatory body.

5

Human sciences, Sciences, Social science, 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

Government, Military, Politics, War Of a military unit or formation, or its elements, belonging to a permanent organization (in contrast to being temporarily attached).

  • Socially, the term “organic” unit implies a military force characterized by relatively high cohesion, overlapping primary groups and a certain sense of shared past.1998, Eyal Ben-Ari, Mastering Soldiers: Conflict, Emotions, and the Enemy in an Israeli Military Unit, Beghahn Books, page 29:
  • Most types of German field divisions include an organic reconnaissance battalion, and the remainder have strong reconnaissance companies.1945, U.S. War Department, Handbook on German Military Forces, LSU Press, published 1990, page 161:
7

Instrumental; acting as instruments of nature or of art to a certain destined function or end.

  • those organic arts which enable men to discourse and write perspicuously[1644], [John Milton], Of Education. To Master Samuel Hartlib, [London]: […] [Thomas Underhill and/or Thomas Johnson], →OCLC:
8

Business, Marketing Internet, Of search results Generated according to the ranking algorithms of a search engine, as opposed to deliberate promotional techniques e.g. by advertisers.

  • According to a recent survey by Jupiter Research, 80 percent of Web users get information from organic search results.2008, Michael Masterson, MaryEllen Tribby, Changing the Channel: 12 Easy Ways to Make Millions for Your Business:
9

Developing in a gradual or natural fashion.

  • The writing of the script was an organic process.
10

Harmonious; coherent; structured.

  • The production came together in an organic whole.
Derived terms
54 termsanorganic, antiorganic, bioorganic, disorganic, electroorganic, enorganic, haloorganic, heterorganic, homorganic, hyperorganic, interorganic, intraorganic, metalloorganic, metalorganic, metal-organic framework, microorganic, monorganic, nonorganic, organic agriculture, organically, organic amine, organic architecture, organic brain syndrome, organic chemist, organic chemistry, organic defect, organic dust toxic syndrome, organic electroluminescent display, organic farming, organic food, organic forestry, organic growth, organic intellectual, organicism, organicist, organic law, organic light-emitting diode, organic matter, organicness, organic reduction, organic salt, organic search marketing, organivore, organyl, orgo, persistent organic pollutant, polyorganic, prebiotic organic synthesis, superorganic, technorganic, teleorganic, unorganic, veganic, volatile organic compound
Related terms
organicity
Coordinate terms
inorganic

organic

noun

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

1

Chemistry, Natural sciences, Physical sciences An organic compound.

2

An organic food.

3

Literature, Media, Publishing, Science fiction A living organism, as opposed to a robot or hologram.

  • Pitiful organics.2016, Paradox Interactive, Stellaris (video game), scene: Anomaly Event 3089:
Related terms
inorganic

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.