metabiosis

[ met-uh-bahy-oh-sis ]

noun

, Biology.

1. a mode of living in which one organism is dependent on another for preparation of an environment in which it can live.

Other Words From

• met·a·bi·ot·ic [met-, uh, -bahy-, ot, -ik], adjective
• meta·bi·oti·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of metabiosis¹

First recorded in 1895–1900; meta- + -biosis

Example Sentences

It led him to an even more fertile suggestion, that of metabiosis.

From Project Gutenberg

He also showed that metabiosis played an important part in nitrification.

From Project Gutenberg