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