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-/, noun

Example sentences from the Web for abiogenesis

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), noun

Word Origin for abiogenesis

C19: New Latin, from a- 1 + bio- + genesis

Scientific definitions for abiogenesis

abiogenesis
[ ā′bī-ō-jĕnĭ-sĭs ]

See spontaneous generation.