biological-sounding
|bi-o-log-i-cal-sound-ing|
🇺🇸
/ˌbaɪəˈlɑdʒɪkəlˈsaʊndɪŋ/
🇬🇧
/ˌbaɪəˈlɒdʒɪk(ə)lˈsaʊndɪŋ/
sounds like something alive
Etymology
'biological-sounding' is a compound of 'biological' and 'sounding'. 'biological' originates from Modern Latin 'biologicus' via Greek 'biologia' (from Greek 'bios' meaning 'life' and '-logia' meaning 'study'), and 'sounding' comes from Old English 'sund'/'sundian' (and Middle English 'sounen') meaning 'to make a noise' or 'to emit sound'.
'biological' developed from Greek 'biologia' through Medieval and Modern Latin into English as 'biological'; 'sound' (verb/noun) evolved from Old English 'sund'/'sundian' to Middle English 'soun'/'sounen' and then to modern English 'sound' and the present participle 'sounding'. The compound 'biological-sounding' formed in modern English by combining these elements.
Initially, the roots referred separately to 'life' and 'noise/being heard'; over time they combined into the compound meaning 'having qualities or a sound characteristic of living organisms' or 'appearing consistent with biological processes'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
having a sound or quality that resembles something produced by living organisms; seeming like it comes from a biological source.
The field recording had a biological-sounding hum that suggested it came from an insect chorus.
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Adjective 2
appearing plausible or consistent with biological processes (often used of explanations, names, or features).
The hypothesis was criticized for not being biological-sounding enough to explain the observed patterns.
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Last updated: 2025/11/07 23:54