biomolecule
|bi-o-mol-e-cule|
🇺🇸
/ˌbaɪ.oʊˈmɑlɪˌkjuːl/
🇬🇧
/ˌbaɪəʊˈmɒlɪkjuːl/
life-related molecule
Etymology
'biomolecule' is formed from the combining form 'bio-' (from Greek 'bios', meaning 'life') + 'molecule' (from Modern Latin 'molecula', diminutive of Latin 'moles', meaning 'mass').
'molecule' entered scientific English via Modern Latin 'molecula' and French 'molécule'; the compound 'biomolecule' arose in modern scientific English by prefixing Greek-derived 'bio-' to 'molecule' to denote molecules of living systems.
The element 'molecule' originally referred to a 'small mass' in Latin usage and later came to mean the smallest unit of a chemical compound; attaching 'bio-' narrowed its sense to molecules associated with living organisms, the current meaning of 'biomolecule'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a molecule that is produced by, found in, or is characteristic of living organisms (for example proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and lipids).
Proteins and nucleic acids are major classes of biomolecules essential for life.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/04 13:46