n., pl., -gies.
- The science of the relationships between organisms and their environments. Also called bionomics.
- The relationship between organisms and their environment.
- The branch of sociology that is concerned with studying the relationships between human groups and their physical and social environments. Also called human ecology.
- The study of the detrimental effects of modern civilization on the environment, with a view toward prevention or reversal through conservation. Also called human ecology.
[German Ökologie : Greek oikos, house + German -logie, study (from Greek -logiā, -logy).]
ecological ec'o·log'i·cal (ĕk'ə-lŏj'ĭ-kəl, ē'kə-) or ec'o·log'ic (-ĭk) adj.ecologically ec'o·log'i·cal·ly adv.
ecologist e·col'o·gist n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
