abiogenesis
[ ey-bahy-oh-jen-uh-sis, ab-ee-oh- ]
/ ˌeɪ baɪ oʊˈdʒɛn ə sɪs, ˌæb i oʊ- /
noun
the now discredited theory that living organisms can arise spontaneously from inanimate matter; spontaneous generation.
the theory that the earliest life forms on earth developed from nonliving matter.
Compare biogenesis.
Origin of abiogenesis
a-6 +
biogenesis; coined by T. H. Huxley in 1870
OTHER WORDS FROM abiogenesis
a·bi·o·ge·net·ic [ey-bahy-oh-juh-net-ik, ab-ee-oh-] /ˌeɪ baɪ oʊ dʒəˈnɛt ɪk, ˌæb i oʊ-/, a·bi·o·ge·net·i·cal, adjective a·bi·o·ge·net·i·cal·ly, adverb a·bi·og·e·nist [ey-bahy-oj-uh-nist, ab-ee-] /ˌeɪ baɪˈɒdʒ ə nɪst, ˌæb i-/, nounWords nearby abiogenesis
ability grouping,
abimelech,
abingdon,
abington,
abinoam,
abiogenesis,
abiogenic,
abiological,
abiosis,
abiotic,
abiotic factor
Example sentences from the Web for abiogenesis
Abiogenesis, ab-i-o-jen′es-is, n. the origination of living by not-living matter, spontaneous generation.
The belief in abiogenesis or spontaneous generation, as now taking place, has completely disappeared from biological teaching.
Evolution in Art |Alfred C. HaddonThis belief led to the theory of abiogenesis so-called—a term signifying the production of life without life to begin with.
British Dictionary definitions for abiogenesis
abiogenesis
/ (ˌeɪbaɪəʊˈdʒɛnɪsɪs) /
noun
Also called: autogenesis
the hypothetical process by which living organisms first arose on earth from nonliving matter
another name for spontaneous generation Compare biogenesis
Derived forms of abiogenesis
abiogenetic, adjective abiogenist (ˌeɪbaɪˈɒdʒɪnɪst), nounWord Origin for abiogenesis
C19: New Latin, from
a-
1 +
bio- +
genesis
Scientific definitions for abiogenesis
abiogenesis
[ ā′bī-ō-jĕn′ĭ-sĭs ]
See spontaneous generation.