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bi·o·de·grad·a·ble
 biodegradable
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- pronunciation:
- baI
o
d
greI
d
bl
- features:
- Word Parts
| part of speech: |
adjective |
| definition: |
able to be broken down by the action of living organisms such as bacteria.
Paper is biodegradable waste, but aluminum is not. |
| related words: |
organic |
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| derivation: |
biodegradability (n.) |
The word biodegradable
contains the following parts:
de-
Latin
prefix
that means from; away from; down from; reverse, negate.
  Example words:
biodegradable, debate, decay, deceive, deception, decide, decision, decline, decode, deduct, defer, deform, defy, degrade, dehydrate, delete, demerit, depend, deport, deprive, descend, describe, description, desegregate, design, designate, despise, detach, detect, detract, independence
- synonyms:
- dis-, un-
bio, bi, -be
Greek
root
that means life, living, living things
Example words:
aerobic, aerobics, amphibian, amphibious, autobiography, biodegradable, biography, biological, biology, bioluminescence, biomass, microbe
grad, -grade
Latin
root
that means go, step, degree
Example words:
-able, -ible, -ble
Latin
adjective-forming suffix
that means capable of being, doing, or undergoing
More about this word part:
The suffix -able
, and its variants, is attached to Latin verb roots or English transitive verbs to form adjectives. (In a small set of cases, -able
is attached to a noun, e.g. knowledgeable and marriageable.) For spelling purposes, it is useful to know that -able
is more likely to be added to a whole English word (comparable, adorable
), while -ible
is more likely to follow a bound root (visible
, legible
). However,there are still many words which combine a root with -able
(capable
, inevitable
). The suffix -ity can be added to any adjective ending in -able
, -ible
, -ble
to produce a corresponding noun ending in -ability, -ibility, -bility (possible
+ -ity > possibility; irrevocable + -ity > irrevocability.)
Example words:
acceptable, accessible, adorable, amiable, audible, biodegradable, capable, convertible, dependable, disagreeable, disposable, divisible, eligible, flammable, flexible, illegible, impossible, inaudible, incapable, incomprehensible, inconceivable, incredible, incurable, indivisible, inevitable, invaluable, invincible, invisible, irreversible, legible, likable, lovable, movable, notable, perishable, portable, possible, sensible, usable, visible, washable, affordable, reliable, remarkable, approachable, durable, sustainable
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