biomineralization en · NOUN
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *gʷeyh₃-der. Ancient Greek βῐ́ος (bĭ́os) Ancient Greek βῐο- (bĭo-)der. English bio- English mineral Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íd͏̌d͏̌ō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō)bor. Late Latin -izōder. Middle French -iserbor. Middle English -isen English -ize Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Indo-European *-Hō Proto-Indo-European *-tiHō Proto-Italic *-tiō Latin -tiō Latin -ātiōlbor. Old French -ationbor. Middle English -acioun English -ation English -ization English mineralization English biomineralization From bio- + mineralization.
Meanings
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(countable, uncountable) The formation of hard mineral deposits within a living organism; especially the process whereby bone and similar structural material is formed.
This process of ‘biomineralization’ is used today to reclaim gold from the Youanmi deposits of Western Australia.
2002, Philip Ball, The Elements: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford, published 2004, page 51:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| biomineralizations | Number=Plur | lexicographic |