organic

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/ɔːrˈɡænɪk/
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Connected with living matter or carbon chemistry, certified agricultural production, naturally integrated development, internal business growth, and the products or substances called organics.

Examples

  • Organic milk often costs more than conventional milk.
  • Analysts separated acquisition revenue from organic sales.
  • The brand gained organic reach through customer recommendations.
  • Biologists studied the organic processes inside the cell.
  • Gardeners add mulch to increase the organic content of soil.

Similar words

organics
internal
organic food
organically grown
native
living
gradual
coherent
organic-certified
plant-derived

Meanings

From living things

adjective
biology
neutral
Related to living organisms, their parts, their processes, or material that comes from plants, animals, or other life.

Examples

  • Compost is rich in organic matter.
  • The soil test measured organic carbon.
  • Leaves and roots add organic material to the ground.
  • The wetland stores large amounts of organic debris.
  • Biologists studied the organic processes inside the cell.
  • The fossil preserved traces of organic tissue.
  • Gardeners add mulch to increase the organic content of soil.

Similar words

Carbon-based chemistry

adjective
chemistry
technical
Related to carbon compounds, especially the compounds and reactions studied in organic chemistry.

Examples

  • Methane is a simple organic compound.
  • The lab synthesized a new organic molecule.
  • Students learned the main organic functional groups.
  • The reaction uses an organic solvent.
  • She specializes in organic synthesis.
  • The sample contained several volatile organic compounds.
  • Organic chemistry covers many carbon-based reactions.

Similar words

Certified agricultural product

adjective
food
neutral
Produced under official organic farming standards that restrict many synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, genetic engineering, and other methods.

Examples

  • She bought organic apples at the market.
  • The carton carries a certified organic label.
  • The farm follows organic pest-control rules.
  • Organic milk often costs more than conventional milk.
  • The restaurant uses organic greens when available.
  • USDA organic standards govern how the crop is grown and handled.
  • Natural and organic are not the same label.

Similar words

Natural or integrated development

adjective
general
neutral
Developing from within something as a natural, gradual, or connected part of the whole, rather than being imposed mechanically.

Examples

  • The partnership grew in an organic way.
  • Her essay has an organic structure.
  • The neighborhood developed through organic growth rather than a single plan.
  • The characters’ friendship feels organic.
  • They wanted an organic transition between scenes.
  • The campaign gained support through organic word of mouth.
  • The sculpture uses soft, organic shapes.

Similar words

Internal or unpaid growth

adjective
business
neutral
Coming from a company’s own activity, customer demand, or unpaid reach rather than acquisitions, paid promotion, or external purchase.

Examples

  • The company reported strong organic growth.
  • Organic traffic rose after the site improved its search rankings.
  • The brand gained organic reach through customer recommendations.
  • Analysts separated acquisition revenue from organic sales.
  • The campaign relied on organic posts rather than paid ads.
  • Investors wanted proof of organic demand.
  • Their organic expansion came from new stores, not mergers.

Similar words

Organic product or substance

noun
commerce
neutral
An organic food, product, compound, or substance, most often used in the plural for organic goods or organic chemicals.

Examples

  • The grocery aisle for organics has expanded.
  • Some shoppers buy organics whenever prices allow.
  • The lab separated the organics from the mineral residue.
  • An organic can still be toxic in the wrong dose.
  • The report compares sales of organics and conventional produce.
  • Wastewater testing measured several organics.
  • The shop marks each certified organic with a green tag.

Similar words

Etymology

From Latin organicus, from Greek organikos, relating to an organ or instrument, later extended to living systems and their chemistry.

FAQ

What does organic mean?

Organic can mean related to living matter, carbon chemistry, certified farming, natural development, internal growth, or organic products and substances.

Does organic mean natural?

Organic sometimes means naturally developed, but for food it refers to certification standards, so it is not the same as natural.

What does organic mean in chemistry?

In chemistry, organic means related to carbon compounds and organic chemistry.

What does organic mean on food?

On food, organic means produced and handled under official organic standards such as USDA Organic rules.

Does organic mean chemical-free?

No, organic does not mean chemical-free, since all food contains chemicals and organic standards still allow some substances.

What is organic growth?

Organic growth is growth from internal activity, customer demand, or unpaid reach rather than acquisitions or paid promotion.

Can organic be a noun?

Yes, organic can be a noun for an organic product or compound, and organics is common for plural categories.

What is the opposite of organic?

The opposite depends on the sense: inorganic in chemistry, conventional for food, paid in marketing, or forced for development.

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