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Webster 1913 Edition

Organic

Or-gan′ic

(ôr-găn′ĭk)
,
Adj.
[L.
organicus
, Gr.
ὀργανικός
: cf. F.
organique
.]
1.
(Biol.)
Of or pertaining to an organ or its functions, or to objects composed of organs; consisting of organs, or containing them;
as, the
organic
structure of animals and plants
; exhibiting characters peculiar to living organisms;
as,
organic
bodies,
organic
life,
organic
remains
. Cf.
Inorganic
.
2.
Produced by the organs;
as,
organic
pleasure
.
[R.]
3.
Instrumental; acting as instruments of nature or of art to a certain destined function or end.
[R.]
Those
organic
arts which enable men to discourse and write perspicuously.
Milton.
4.
Forming a whole composed of organs.
Hence:
Of or pertaining to a system of organs; inherent in, or resulting from, a certain organization;
as, an
organic
government; his love of truth was not inculcated, but
organic
.
☞ The principles of organic and inorganic chemistry are identical; but the enormous number and the completeness of related series of organic compounds, together with their remarkable facility of exchange and substitution, offer an illustration of chemical reaction and homology not to be paralleled in inorganic chemistry.
Organic analysis
(Chem.)
,
the analysis of organic compounds, concerned chiefly with the determination of carbon as carbon dioxide, hydrogen as water, oxygen as the difference between the sum of the others and 100 per cent, and nitrogen as free nitrogen, ammonia, or nitric oxide; – formerly called ultimate analysis, in distinction from proximate analysis.
–
Organic chemistry
.
See under
Chemistry
.
–
Organic compounds
.
(Chem.)
Chemical substances which are organic{5}. See
Carbon compounds
, under
Carbon
.
–
Organic description of a curve
(Geom.)
,
the description of a curve on a plane by means of instruments.
Brande & C.
–
Organic disease
(Med.)
,
a disease attended with morbid changes in the structure of the organs of the body or in the composition of its fluids; – opposed to
functional disease
.
–
Organic electricity
.
See under
Electricity
.
–
Organic law
or
Organic laws
,
a law or system of laws, or declaration of principles fundamental to the existence and organization of a political or other association; a constitution.
–
Organic stricture
(Med.)
,
a contraction of one of the natural passages of the body produced by structural changes in its walls, as distinguished from a
spasmodic stricture
, which is due to muscular contraction.

Webster 1828 Edition

Organic

ORGAN'IC

,

Definition 2025

organic

organic

See also: orgànic

English

Alternative forms

Adjective

organic ‎(comparative more organic, superlative most organic)

  1. (biology) Pertaining to or derived from living organisms.
  2. (physiology, medicine) Pertaining to an organ of the body of a living organism.
  3. (chemistry) Relating to the compounds of carbon, relating to natural products
  4. (agriculture) Of food or food products, grown in an environment free from artificial agrichemicals, and possibly certified by a regulatory body.
  5. (sociology) Describing a form of social solidarity theorized by Emile Durkheim that is characterized by voluntary engagements in complex interdepencies for mutual benefit (such as business agreements), rather than mechanical solidarity, which depends on ascribed relations between people (as in a family or tribe).
  6. (military) Of a military unit or formation, or its elements, belonging to a permanent organization (in contrast to being temporarily attached).
    • 1998: Eyal Ben-Ari, Mastering Soldiers: Conflict, Emotions, and the Enemy in an Israeli Military Unit. Beghahn Books, p 29.
      Socially, the term “organic” unit implies a military force characterized by relatively high cohesion, overlapping primary groups and a certain sense of shared past.
    • 1945: U.S. War Department, Handbook on German Military Forces. LSU Press (1990). p 161.
      Most types of German field divisions include an organic reconnaissance battalion, and the remainder have strong reconnaissance companies.
  7. Instrumental; acting as instruments of nature or of art to a certain destined function or end.
    • Milton
      those organic arts which enable men to discourse and write perspicuously
  8. (Internet, of search results) Generated according to the ranking algorithms of a search engine, as opposed to paid placement by advertisers.
    • 2008, Michael Masterson, MaryEllen Tribby, Changing the Channel: 12 Easy Ways to Make Millions for Your Business
      According to a recent survey by Jupiter Research, 80 percent of Web users get information from organic search results.
  9. Developing in a gradual or natural fashion.
    The writing of the script was an organic process.
  10. Harmonious; coherent; structured.
    The production came together in an organic whole.

Coordinate terms

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Noun

organic ‎(plural organics)

  1. (chemistry) An organic compound.
  2. An organic food.
  3. (science fiction) A living organism, as opposed to a robot or hologram.

Translations

See also

Etymology

From Old French organique

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ɔːˈɡænɪk/
  • Rhymes: -ænɪk

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