biotechnology

noun bio·tech·nol·o·gy \ˌbī-ō-tek-ˈnä-lə-jē\

: the use of living cells, bacteria, etc., to make useful products (such as crops that insects are less likely to destroy or new kinds of medicine)

Full Definition of BIOTECHNOLOGY

: the manipulation (as through genetic engineering) of living organisms or their components to produce useful usually commercial products (as pest resistant crops, new bacterial strains, or novel pharmaceuticals); also : any of various applications of biological science used in such manipulation

: ergonomics 1

— bio·tech·no·log·i·cal \-ˌtek-nə-ˈlä-ji-kəl\ adjective

— bio·tech·no·log·i·cal·ly \-ji-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

— bio·tech·nol·o·gist \-ˈnä-lə-jist\ noun

See biotechnology defined for English-language learners

See biotechnology defined for kids

First Known Use of BIOTECHNOLOGY

1941

Other Microbiology Terms

pathogen, salmonella, tetanus

BIOTECHNOLOGIST Defined for Kids

biotechnology

noun bio·tech·nol·o·gy \ˌbī-ō-tek-ˈnä-lə-jē\

Definition of BIOTECHNOLOGY for Kids

: the use of techniques from genetics to combine inherited characteristics selected from different kinds of organisms into one organism in order to produce useful products (as drugs)

Medical Dictionary

biotechnology

noun bio·tech·nol·o·gy \-tek-ˈnäl-ə-jē\

plural bio·tech·nol·o·gies

Medical Definition of BIOTECHNOLOGY

: the manipulation (as through genetic engineering) of living organisms or their components to produce useful usually commercial products (as novel pharmaceuticals); also : any of various applications of biological science used in such manipulation

: ergonomics

—bio·tech·no·log·i·cal \-ˌtek-nə-ˈläj-i-kəl\ adjective

—bio·tech·no·log·i·cal·ly \-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

—bio·tech·nol·o·gist \-tek-ˈnäl-ə-jəst\ noun