astrobiological
|as-tro-bi-o-lo-gi-cal|
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/ˌæstroʊbaɪəˈlɑdʒɪkəl/
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/ˌæstrəʊbaɪəˈlɒdʒɪkəl/
relating to life in the universe
Etymology
'astrobiological' originates from Modern English, specifically built from the noun 'astrobiology' plus the adjectival suffix '-ical', where 'astro-' comes from Greek 'astron' meaning 'star', 'bio-' from Greek 'bios' meaning 'life', and '-logy' from Greek 'logia' meaning 'study'.
'astrobiological' developed from the noun 'astrobiology' (coined in the 20th century) by adding the suffix '-ical' to form an adjective meaning 'relating to astrobiology'; 'astrobiology' itself combines Greek roots via Modern Latin/English usage.
Initially the component term 'astrobiology' referred to the emerging scientific study of life beyond Earth; over time the adjective 'astrobiological' has come to mean 'relating to that field' or 'pertaining to biological phenomena in space'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
relating to astrobiology — the scientific study of the origin, evolution, distribution, and future of life in the universe.
Astrobiological research seeks biosignatures that would indicate past or present life on other planets.
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Adjective 2
pertaining to biological processes or conditions in astronomical or extraterrestrial contexts (e.g., planets, moons, interplanetary environments).
The mission included astrobiological experiments to test microbial survival under simulated Martian conditions.
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Last updated: 2025/11/07 17:54