Dictionary

biotechnology en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• [ˌbaɪ.oːˌtɛkˈnɒl.ə.d͡ʒi] (Canada)
• (Texas) audio
• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˌbaɪ.oʊˌtɛkˈnɒl.ə.d͡ʒi/ (Canada)
• /ˌbaɪ.oʊˌtɛkˈnɑ.lə.d͡ʒi/ (Atlantic-Canada)
• /ˌbaɪ.əʊˌtɛkˈnɒl.ə.d͡ʒi/ (UK)
• [ˌbaɪ.oːˌtɛkˈnɑ.lə.d͡ʒi] (Atlantic-Canada)
• /ˌbaɪ.oʊˌtɛkˈnɑ.lə.d͡ʒi/ (General-American)

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *gʷeyh₃-der. Ancient Greek βῐ́ος (bĭ́os) Ancient Greek βῐο- (bĭo-)der. English bio- Proto-Indo-European *teḱ- Proto-Indo-European *tetḱ- Proto-Indo-European *téḱ-sneh₂der. Ancient Greek τεχνο- (tekhno-) Proto-Indo-European *leǵ-der. Proto-Indo-European *léǵ-e-ti Proto-Hellenic *légō Ancient Greek λέγω (légō) Proto-Indo-European *-os Proto-Hellenic *-os Ancient Greek -ος (-os) Ancient Greek -λόγος (-lógos) Ancient Greek τεχνολόγος (tekhnológos) Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-i-eh₂ Proto-Hellenic *-íā Ancient Greek -ῐ́ᾱ (-ĭ́ā) Ancient Greek τεχνολογία (tekhnología)lbor. English technology English biotechnology From bio- + technology.

Meanings

1. (uncountable, usually) The use of living organisms (especially microorganisms) in industrial, agricultural, medical and other technological applications.
   • Japan's strength lies in more traditional biotechnology such as fermentation. 1988, New Zealand Department of Trade and Industry, Biotechnology in New Zealand—A Business Perspective, page 8:
   • Moreover, Arnhart points out that both the proponents and critics of biotechnology are compelled to appeal to our natural moral sense. 2009, Sean D. Sutton, “Introduction”, in Sean D. Sutton, editor, Biotechnology: Our Future as Human Beings and Citizens, page 6:
   • The developments in biotechnology, particularly with the basic understanding of genetics, immunology, biochemistry, biochemical engineering and molecular biology, have paved the way for major biotechnology products and processes and have provided tools to the manufacturing and service industry. 2003, Mabju Sharma, Renu Swarup, “The Way Ahead - The New Technology in an Old Society”, in T. K. Ghose, P. Ghosh, editors, Biotechnology in India I, page 5:
2. (uncountable, usually) The application of the principles and practices of engineering and technology to the life sciences.
   • It therefore follows that we need to ensure that the conception, development, dissemination and application of biotechnologies are held to ethical democratic standars which ensure gender equality. 2008, Wendy Harcourt, “Chapter 1: Heading Blithely Down the Garden Path?: Some Entry Points into Current Debates on Women and Biotechnologies”, in Francesca Molfino, Flavia Zucco, editors, Women in Biotechnology: Creating Interfaces, page 38:
   • Agricultural biotechnology comprises a collection of scientific techniques, including genetic engineering, that are used to modify and improve plants, animals and microorganisms for human profit. Agricultural biotechnologies are not a substitute for conventional plant and animal breeding, but can be a powerful complement to improving the efficiency and sustainability of agricultural production. 2002, Charles Spillane, Yvonne Pinto, “1: Biosafety in Agrcultural Biotechnology: Balancing Social and Environmental Impacts”, in Timothy M. Swanson, editor, The Economics of Managing Biotechnologies, page 4:
   • 2008, Yutaka Tanaka, Attitude toward Bioethics and Acceptance of Biotechnology, William G. Flynne (editor), Biotechnology and Bioengineering, page 175, The result of study 3 suggests that the factor of bioethics is important not only for the acceptance of biotechnologies themselves, such as gene recombination technology and clone technology, but also the acceptance of foods and products which are produced by the use of biotechnologies.
3. (uncountable, usually) genetic engineering

Forms

Deriveds

prebiotechnology · agrobiotechnology · nanobiotechnology · agribiotechnology · biotech · biotechnological · photobiotechnology · cryobiotechnology

Relateds

bioengineering · biomodification · bionics · biomimetics · genetic engineering

Translations (46)

de Biotechnologie (application of the principles and practices of engineering and technology to the life sciences) · ga biteicneolaíocht (use of living organisms in industrial, agricultural, medical applications) · cmn 生物技術 /生物技术 (use of living organisms in industrial, agricultural, medical applications) · ga biteicneolaíocht (application of the principles and practices of engineering and technology to the life sciences) · ja 生物工学 (use of living organisms in industrial, agricultural, medical applications) · tl hayaghimuan (application of the principles and practices of engineering and technology to the life sciences) · es biotecnología (use of living organisms in industrial, agricultural, medical applications) · tr biyoteknoloji (use of living organisms in industrial, agricultural, medical applications) · de Biotechnologie (use of living organisms in industrial, agricultural, medical applications) · it biotecnologia (application of the principles and practices of engineering and technology to the life sciences) · ca biotecnologia (use of living organisms in industrial, agricultural, medical applications) · hy բիոտեխնոլոգիա (use of living organisms in industrial, agricultural, medical applications) · gl biotecnoloxía (use of living organisms in industrial, agricultural, medical applications) · ru биотехноло́гия (application of the principles and practices of engineering and technology to the life sciences) · ms bioteknologi (use of living organisms in industrial, agricultural, medical applications) · sv bioteknik (use of living organisms in industrial, agricultural, medical applications) · hy բիոտեխնոլոգիա (application of the principles and practices of engineering and technology to the life sciences) · tl hayaghimuan (use of living organisms in industrial, agricultural, medical applications) · pl biotechnologia (use of living organisms in industrial, agricultural, medical applications) · ja バイオテクノロジー (use of living organisms in industrial, agricultural, medical applications) · pt biotecnologia (application of the principles and practices of engineering and technology to the life sciences) · pl biotechnologia (application of the principles and practices of engineering and technology to the life sciences) · el βιοτεχνολογία (use of living organisms in industrial, agricultural, medical applications) · km បច្ចេកវិទ្យាជីវៈ (use of living organisms in industrial, agricultural, medical applications) · de Biotechnik (application of the principles and practices of engineering and technology to the life sciences) · io bioteknologio (application of the principles and practices of engineering and technology to the life sciences) · nrf biotechnologie (use of living organisms in industrial, agricultural, medical applications) · fi biotekniikka (application of the principles and practices of engineering and technology to the life sciences) · la biotechnologia (application of the principles and practices of engineering and technology to the life sciences) · fi bioteknologia (use of living organisms in industrial, agricultural, medical applications) · es biotecnología (application of the principles and practices of engineering and technology to the life sciences) · fr biotechnologie (use of living organisms in industrial, agricultural, medical applications) · is líftækni (use of living organisms in industrial, agricultural, medical applications) · nrf biotechnologie (application of the principles and practices of engineering and technology to the life sciences) · fi bioteknologia (application of the principles and practices of engineering and technology to the life sciences) · kmr teknolojiya zîndeyî (application of the principles and practices of engineering and technology to the life sciences) · is líftækni (application of the principles and practices of engineering and technology to the life sciences) · io bioteknologio (use of living organisms in industrial, agricultural, medical applications) · ru биотехноло́гия (use of living organisms in industrial, agricultural, medical applications) · it biotecnologia (use of living organisms in industrial, agricultural, medical applications) · fr biotechnologie (application of the principles and practices of engineering and technology to the life sciences) · ca biotecnologia (application of the principles and practices of engineering and technology to the life sciences) · vi công nghệ sinh học (use of living organisms in industrial, agricultural, medical applications) · pt biotecnologia (use of living organisms in industrial, agricultural, medical applications) · mn биотехнологи (use of living organisms in industrial, agricultural, medical applications) · tr biyoteknoloji (application of the principles and practices of engineering and technology to the life sciences)