biome

[ bahy-ohm ]

noun

, Ecology.

1. a complex biotic community characterized by distinctive plant and animal species and maintained under the climatic conditions of the region, especially such a community that has developed to climax.

biome

/ ˈbaɪˌəʊm /

noun

1. a major ecological community, extending over a large area and usually characterized by a dominant vegetation See formation

biome

/ bī′ōm′ /

1. A large community of plants and animals that occupies a distinct region. Terrestrial biomes, typically defined by their climate and dominant vegetation, include grassland, tundra, desert, tropical rainforest, and deciduous and coniferous forests. There are two basic aquatic biomes, freshwater and marine, which are sometimes further broken down into categories such as lakes and rivers or pelagic, benthic, and intertidal zones.

Word History and Origins

Origin of biome¹

First recorded in 1915–20; bi- ² + -ome, indicating a mass or part of something ( -oma )

Word History and Origins

Origin of biome¹

C20: from bio- + -ome

Example Sentences

This research is part of the ongoing UK Baby Biome study and is funded by Wellcome and the Wellcome Sanger Institute.

From BBC

As for Coleman and McAfee’s belief that stomach acid and a healthy gut biome would offer protection, he noted previous studies that showed cats eating wild birds did get the virus, suggesting those safeguards are not sufficient to protect mammals against bird flu.

From Los Angeles Times

The boreal forests form a single biome that spans the entire Northern Hemisphere.

From Science Daily

On the positive, the study also identifies locations within every biome on Earth where the climate mitigation benefits of tree-planting can be achieved.

From Science Daily

She might be studying plants of the tundra biome when her mind questioned whether his teacher was calling him Henry, which he hated.

From Literature

Related Words

• ecosystem
• habitat