astrobiology
|as-tro-bi-ol-o-gy|
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/ˌæstroʊbaɪˈɑːlədʒi/
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/ˌæstrəʊbaɪˈɒlədʒi/
study of life in the universe
Etymology
'astrobiology' originates from modern coinage using Greek-derived elements: 'astro-' from Greek 'astron' meaning 'star' and 'biology' from Greek 'bios' meaning 'life' plus '-logia' meaning 'study'.
'astrobiology' was formed in the mid-20th century by combining the prefix 'astro-' (from Greek via Latin/Modern usage) with the already established word 'biology' (from Greek 'bios' + 'logos'), creating a modern English term for the study of life in relation to celestial contexts.
Initially coined to denote the study of life in space and the possibility of extraterrestrial organisms, the term has broadened to encompass the full interdisciplinary investigation of life's origin, evolution, distribution, and future both on Earth and elsewhere.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the interdisciplinary scientific study of the origin, evolution, distribution, and future of life in the universe, including life on Earth and the possibility of life on other planets or moons.
Astrobiology combines biology, astronomy, geology, and chemistry to investigate how life begins and where it might exist beyond Earth.
Synonyms
Noun 2
the scientific effort to detect, characterize, or model extraterrestrial life and habitats (often used in contexts focusing on the search for life on other worlds).
Recent missions to icy moons have important implications for astrobiology because subsurface oceans could harbor life.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/07 17:42