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organic

Primary Information
Secondary Information

Definition

Organic means something that comes from living things. For example, food that is grown without pesticides or fertilisers is called organic food. This is because the food comes from plants that are grown in soil that is rich in organic matter, such as compost.

Organic can also refer to things that are made from living things. For example, leather is an organic material because it is made from the skin of animals.

How can the word be used?

There are many different types of organic compounds, including carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids.

organic

Different forms of the word

Adjective: Relating to or derived from living organisms.

Noun: A substance that is derived from living organisms.

Etymology

The word "organic" comes from the Greek word "organikos," which means "of or pertaining to an organ." The Greek word "organikos" is also the source of the Latin word "organicus" and the French word "organique.".

The word "organic" was first used in English in the 17th century. It was used to refer to something that was derived from living organisms.

Question

What is organic?