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e·col·o·gy

ecology

 
 
pronunciation:
ih ka l ji
features:
Word Explorer, Word Parts
part of speech: noun
definition: the scientific study of the relationships between living things and their environments.
An interest in ecology made her study the effects of warmer ocean temperatures on sea animals.
derivations: ecological (adj.), ecologically (adv.), ecologist (n.)
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See
  ecosystem, life, life cycle, natural resources, science
Word Parts  About this feature
The word ecology contains the following parts:
eco Greek root that means habitat, environment
-logy, -ology Greek noun-forming suffix that means study of, science of; written work; structure or principle
Show wordsHide wordsMore about this word part:
The suffix -logy , -ology forms nouns from bases that are predominantly Greek roots. It is a terminal form of the root log, logo, -logue which in the vast majority cases signifies the study or science of the subject indicated by the base. In some words, however, -ology carries the meaning "written work" (trilogy) or "structure" (homology). See log, logo, -logue. Most nouns ending in -logy , -ology have an adjective form ending in "-ical." (dermatology, dermatological).
synonyms:
-ics