— ecological /ek'euh loj"i keuhl, ee'keuh-/ , ecologic , adj. — ecologically , adv. — ecologist , n.
/i kol"euh jee/ , n.
1. the branch of biology dealing with the relations and interactions between organisms and their environment, including other organisms.
2. Also called human ecology . the branch of sociology concerned with the spacing and interdependence of people and institutions.
Also, oecology .
[ 1870-75; earlier oecology Ökologie oîk ( os ) + -o- -O- + G -logie -LOGY; term introduced by E. H. Haeckel ]