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The supposed development of living organisms from nonliving matter. Also called autogenesis, spontaneous generation.
a′bi·o·ge·net′ic (-jə-nĕt′ĭk), a′bi·o·ge·net′i·cal adj.
a′bi·og′e·nist (-ŏj′ə-nĭst) n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
1. (Biology) Also called: autogenesis the hypothetical process by which living organisms first arose on earth from nonliving matter
[C19: New Latin, from a-1 + bio- + genesis]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
a•bi•o•gen•e•sis(ˌeɪ baɪ oʊˈdʒɛn ə sɪs, ˌæb i oʊ-)
the production of living organisms by nonliving matter; spontaneous generation: a former belief.
a`bi•o•ge•net′ic (-dʒəˈnɛt ɪk) a`bi•o•ge•net′i•cal, adj.
a`bi•og′e•nist (-ˈɒdʒ ə nɪst) n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
Biology. the production of living organisms from inanimate matter. Also called spontaneous generation. — abiogenetic, adj.See also: Life
generation of living organisms from inanimate matter. Also called spontaneous generation.See also: Heredity
the process of generation of living organisms from inanimate matter; spontaneous generation. — abiogenetic, adj. — abiogenetically, adv.See also: Biology
-Ologies & -Isms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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|Noun||1.||abiogenesis - a hypothetical organic phenomenon by which living organisms are created from nonliving matter|
organic phenomenon - (biology) a natural phenomenon involving living plants and animals
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