noun
the branch of biology concerned with the relations between organisms and their environment
• Derivationally related forms: ↑bionomic (for: ↑bionomics), ↑bionomical (for: ↑bionomics), ↑ecologic (for: ↑ecology), ↑ecological (for: ↑ecology), ↑ecologist (for: ↑ecology)
• Members of this Topic:
↑cosmopolitan, ↑widely distributed, ↑endemic, ↑eutrophic (for: ↑ecology), ↑community, ↑biotic community, ↑association, ↑food chain, ↑food pyramid, ↑food web, ↑food cycle, ↑establishment, ↑ecesis, ↑succession, ↑ecological succession, ↑niche, ↑ecological niche
• Hypernyms: ↑biology, ↑biological science
• Hyponyms: ↑paleoecology, ↑palaeoecology
* * *
the branch of science concerned with the physical, chemical, and biological conditions of the environment and their effect on organisms.
[1965-70]
* * *
environmental science,
the study of environmental problems, especially those created by pollution: »
As a group of marine biologists, we are actively involved in various facets of environmental science—a less emotive and more encompassing term than pollution studies (J. R. Lewis).
Useful english dictionary. 2012.