biosphere

noun

bio·​sphere ˈbī-ə-ˌsfir 

1

: the part of the world in which life can exist

2

: living organisms together with their environment

biospheric

ˌbī-ə-ˈsfir-ik 

-ˈsfer-

-ˈsfe-rik

adjective

Did you know?

The lithosphere is the solid surface of the earth (lith- meaning "rock"); the hydrosphere is the earth's water (hydro- means "water"), including the clouds and water vapor in the air; and the atmosphere is the earth's air (atmos- meaning "vapor"). The term biosphere can include all of these, along with the 10 million species of living things they contain. The biosphere recycles its air, water, organisms, and minerals constantly to maintain an amazingly balanced state; human beings should probably do their best to imitate it. Though the word has a new sound to it, it was first used over a hundred years ago.

Examples of biosphere in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

As a result, extinction has increased the overall range of diversity in the biosphere over time, a phenomenon known as evolutionary stacking. —Leigh Phillips, The Atlantic, 9 July 2024

Earlier sketches of our unraveling biosphere dealt in the dark, seductive register of doom. —Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 June 2024

Srishti Gupta 2 months ago 0 Science Secret biosphere found 13 feet below world’s driest hot desert The researchers found a resilient group of bacteria thriving in the extreme depths of bone-dry Yungay Valley. —Interesting Engineering, 23 June 2024

Lining the shores of the lake are dunes, campgrounds, swimming beaches, and established wildlife and biosphere preserves. —Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 20 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German Biosphäre, from bio- bio- + -sphäre -sphere

Note: Biosphäre was introduced by the Austrian geologist Eduard Suess (1831-1914) in Die Entstehung der Alpen (Vienna, 1875), p. 159.

First Known Use

1899, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

biosphere

noun

bio·​sphere ˈbī-ə-ˌsfi(ə)r 

: the part of the world in which life can exist

Medical Definition

biosphere

noun

bio·​sphere ˈbī-ə-ˌsfi(ə)r 

1

: the part of the world in which life can exist

2

: living beings together with their environment