ORGANIC


Meaning of ORGANIC in English

I. (ˈ)ȯ(r)|ganik, -nēk adjective

Etymology: Latin organicus, from Greek organikos, from organon tool, instrument, organ + -ikos -ic — more at organ

1. archaic : serving as an instrument or means : instrumental

2.

[French organique, from Middle French, from Late Latin organicus, from Greek organikos ]

a. : of or relating to an organ or a system of organs ; specifically : relating to or affecting the internal organs of the body

organic changes in emotion

b. : consisting of or containing organs

the organic structure of animals and plants

c. : produced by an organ

organic pleasure

specifically : having origin in demonstrable somatic pathology

organic psychoses

— compare functional

d. : affecting the structure of the organism

an organic disease

— compare functional

3.

a.

(1) : of, relating to, or derived from living organisms

organic evolution

organic matter

: being, composed of, or containing matter of plant or animal origin

organic remains in the Silurian rocks

a highly organic soil

(2) : relating to, produced with, or based on the use of organics as fertilizers without employment of chemically formulated fertilizers or pesticides

organic farming

organic vegetables

b. : exhibiting characters or qualities peculiar to living organisms

organic growth

organic nature

broadly : forming or belonging to the animate world

the powers of the atom bomb to effect strict organic and inorganic destruction — W.D.Pardridge

organic life

4.

a. : being, containing, or relating to carbon compounds especially in which hydrogen is attached to carbon whether derived from living organisms or not — usually distinguished from inorganic or mineral

organic solvents

organic pigments

b. : being in the form of such a carbon compound

organic nitrogen in proteins

5.

a.

(1) : forming an integral element of a whole : fundamental , inherent , vital

incidental music rather than organic parts of the action — Francis Fergusson

(2) : involving or inherent in the basic character or structure (as of a nation or church) : constitutional , organizational

the organic union of what had been two denominations

(3) : belonging etymologically to the structure of a word

organic t in dental

organic d in hound contrasted with d in sound [L sonus ]

(4) : assigned to and constituting a permanent part of a military organization (as a regiment) under its table of organization and equipment

b.

(1) : constituting a whole whose parts are mutually dependent or intrinsically related : having systematic coordination : organized

an overall perceivable pattern into which the parts can be fitted to make an organic whole — Irving Stone

(2) : forming a complex entity in which the whole is more than the sum of the individual parts and the parts have a life and character deriving from their participation in the whole : having the character of an organism

form and content … wrought into a unique organic whole outside of which neither element has any relevant meaning — Carlos Lynes

in such an organic society the concept of individual liberty was virtually unknown — H.J.Laski

6.

a. : arising and developing in a manner resembling the growth of a living plant or animal

organic form in poetry

the romantic principle asserts that form is an organic event, proceeding from the intuitive experience of the artist — Kathleen Raine

many new coinages in modern Hebrew stem from the normal organic structure of the language — William Chomsky

: having the character of a natural outgrowth

an organic connection between the Koran and the Old and New Testaments — Norman Cousins

b.

(1) : having a form suggesting natural growth as opposed to one that is calculated and contrived

organic crystal formations

(2) : having a form growing out of inherent factors (as function, site) rather than convention

a clear organic architecture … whose function is clearly recognizable in the relation of its forms — Walter Gropius

7. : being or relating to the law by virtue of which a government or organization exists as such : incorporated or involved in the organization of a state, political organism, or other organized association

their nation has written the separation of church and state into its organic law — Paul Blanshard

the purpose of the weather bureau as defined in its organic act is to provide meteorological information — F.W.Reichelderfer

8. : interpreting something (as human society) as having the characteristics of a living plant or animal : organismic

an organic concept of the novel

the organic theory of the state

II. noun

( -s )

: an organic substance: as

a. : a fertilizer consisting only of matter or products of plant or animal origin

b. : a pesticide whose active component is an organic compound or mixture of organic compounds

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.