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biomimicry

noun bio·mim·ic·ry \ ¦bī-(ˌ)ō-¦mi-mi-krē \

Definition of biomimicry

: the imitation of natural biological designs or processes in engineering or invention : biomimetics
  • In 1948, while walking in the woods, Swiss engineer Georges de Mestral noticed how cockleburs stuck to his dog's coat. The result? Velcro: a paragon of biomimicry in practice.
  • —Andy Isaacson,  National Geographic Adventure,  December 2007

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First Known Use of biomimicry

1982

in the meaning defined above

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