or ‧ gan ‧ ic W3 /ɔːˈɡænɪk $ ɔːr-/ BrE AmE adjective
1 . FARMING relating to farming or gardening methods of growing food without using artificial chemicals, or produced or grown by these methods:
Organic farming is better for the environment.
organic gardening
organic food/vegetables/milk etc
The shop sells organic food.
organic wine
2 . DEVELOPMENT change or development which is organic happens in a natural way, without anyone planning it or forcing it to happen:
The company’s path to success was by means of organic growth.
3 . LIVING THINGS living, or produced by or from living things OPP inorganic :
Adding organic matter such as manure can improve the soil.
Bacteria act on organic waste.
4 . PART OF SOMETHING
an organic system or relationship is one in which the parts or people fit well and in a comfortable way with each other:
an organic relationship between the individual and his community
They believe in the organic unity of the universe.
5 . BODY ORGANS relating to the organs of the body:
organic diseases
—organically /-kli/ adverb :
organically produced cheese
A writer’s style must develop organically.
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COLLOCATIONS
■ nouns
▪ organic food/vegetables etc
Our restaurant uses only fresh organic vegetables.
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Many people think that organic food is better for health.
▪ organic farming (=farming without using artificial chemicals)
the environmental benefits of organic farming
▪ organic farmers/farms
Organic farmers build up soil fertility by crop rotation.
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Synthetic fertilisers are banned on organic farms.
▪ organic produce formal (=food produced by organic farming)
The store stocks a wide range of organic produce.
■ verbs
▪ go organic (=buy only organic food, or use only organic methods to farm)
Not all families can afford to go organic.
▪ become organic (=use only organic methods to farm)
More farms are becoming organic, but it is not always an easy choice.
■ adverbs
▪ totally/fully organic (=containing only food that is produced using organic methods)
All the ingredients are totally organic.
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THESAURUS
▪ natural existing in nature and not caused, made, or controlled by people:
a natural lake
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natural light
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the earth's natural resources
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We only use natural ingredients in our products.
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his natural hair colour
▪ wild used about flowers, plants, and animals that are not controlled by people. Also used about areas of land where there are no humans:
We found some wild strawberries.
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wild horses
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wild open spaces
▪ pure used about food, drink, or materials that have not had anything added to them:
pure orange juice
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pure new wool
▪ organic used about fruit, vegetables, meat etc produced without using chemicals:
organic carrots
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organic milk
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organic beauty products
▪ unspoiled ( also unspoilt British English ) a place that is unspoiled is still beautiful because no one has built roads or buildings on it:
It was a pleasant unspoilt village.
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The countryside is remarkably unspoiled.
▪ untouched [not before noun] a place that is untouched has not been affected by human activity:
There are few forested areas of the world that remain untouched by humans.
▪ virgin [only before noun] virgin forest or land is still in its natural state and has not been spoiled or changed in any way by humans:
Large areas of virgin rainforest will be protected from destruction.
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He bought 14,000 acres of virgin land in Ontario.