[or.gan.ic] adj (1517) 1 archaic: instrumental
2. a: of, relating to, or arising in a bodily organ b: affecting the structure of the organism 3 a (1): of, relating to, or derived from living organisms (2): of, relating to, yielding, or involving the use of food produced with the use of feed or fertilizer of plant or animal origin without employment of chemically formulated fertilizers, growth stimulants, antibiotics, or pesticides "~ farming" "~ produce" b (1): of, relating to, or containing carbon compounds (2): relating to, being, or dealt with by a branch of chemistry concerned with the carbon compounds of living beings and most other carbon compounds
4. a: forming an integral element of a whole: fundamental "incidental music rather than ~ parts of the action --Francis Fergusson" b: having systematic coordination of parts: organized "an ~ whole" c: having the characteristics of an organism: developing in the manner of a living plant or animal "society is ~"
5: of, relating to, or constituting the law by which a government or organization exists -- or.gan.i.cal.ly adv -- or.ga.nic.i.ty n
[2]organic n (1942): an organic substance: as a: a fertilizer of plant or animal origin b: a pesticide whose active component is an organic compound or a mixture of organic compounds