Biosciences

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A field encompassing various disciplines focused on living organisms, their interactions, and their biological processes
2. A branch of science that applies biological and ecological principles to understand life systems
3. A multidisciplinary area integrating research in biology, chemistry, physics, and technology to advance knowledge of life sciences

Etymology: "Biosciences" is simply the plural of "bioscience," a compound built from the prefix "bio-" (from Ancient Greek "bíos," meaning life) and "science," which came into English through Old French from Latin "scientia," meaning knowledge. The prefix "bio-" was formed in Greek-influenced combining form style, so the word is a modern coinage rather than something the ancient Greeks would have recognised. The pluralisation reflects the plural use of the noun to refer to the many distinct fields that together make up life science, such as molecular biology, genetics, and ecology. Its literal sense is "knowledge of life," which the modern definition, an integrated field drawing on biology, chemistry, physics, and technology, still reflects closely.

Synonyms: life sciences, biological sciences, biomedicine, biotechnology, ecology