Biome
/ˈbaɪ.oʊm/noun
A major ecological community defined by its climate, plants, and animals.
Did you know?The second half of *biome* comes from Greek *bíos* (“life”), the same root behind *biology*, *biography*, and *antibiotic*—so the word literally frames an ecosystem as a “life-entity.”
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
bíos
“life; way of life”
19th Century
English
bio-
“a modern scientific combining form meaning life”
1916
English
biome
“a biotic community or life zone”
Mid-20th Century
English
biome
“a major ecological region defined by climate and characteristic life forms”
Modern English
English
biome
“a large ecological community or habitat type”