German Conversation · Level 19
90 words
German word
Organismus
Pronunciation
IPA/ˌɔʁgaˈnɪsmʊs/
Meaning
- masculine nounorganism
Example
Der Organismus braucht Wasser und Nahrung.
The organism needs water and food.
More examples
Ein Organismus passt sich an seine Umgebung an.
An organism adapts to its environment.
Core concept
A living whole whose cells and organs cooperate as one functioning system.
Common phrases
menschlicher Organismus
human organism
gesunder Organismus
healthy organism
einzelliger Organismus
single-celled organism
Similar words
Lebewesen: Any living thing, including a person, animal, plant, or microorganism.
Körper: The physical body of a living being.
Organ: A body part that performs a specific function.
Individuum: A single, independently existing living being.
Definition in German
Lebewesen, das aus Zellen oder Organen besteht und durch Stoffwechsel, Wachstum und Fortpflanzung seine Lebensfunktionen aufrechterhält.
Word origin
Organismus comes through Latin from Greek organon, meaning an instrument or bodily organ, and developed into a term for an organized living system.
Usage tips
- Organismus is masculine, with the plural Organismen, and is especially common in biological and medical contexts.
Opposites
- Abiotikumabiotic factornoun
Related words
- organismischorganismicadjective
- Organismusforschungorganism researchnoun
- Organismusfunktionorganism functionnoun