biological
biological — adjective
1. relating to plants, animals, and other living things, or to the way their bodies
relating to plants, animals, and other living things, or to the way their bodies grow, work, and reproduce.
Dr. Mira studies the biological clock that tells birds when to migrate south.
biological + noun (clock, process, system)
Stress can cause real biological changes inside your body, not just in your mood.
biological changes / effects on the body
The team at Kyoto University is mapping the biological functions of every gene in mice.
Plants and humans share many of the same basic biological needs, such as water and light.
Xiomara failed his biological sciences exam and had to retake it in the summer.
- physiological
more technical; focuses on how the body works
- organic
broader; can also mean 'natural' or 'without chemicals'
用法筆記
Always before a noun in this sense. Distinguish from sense 2 (about family/birth relationships): here the focus is on bodies, cells, or scientific study, not on who someone's parent or child is.
常見錯誤
2. describing a parent, child, or other family member who is connected to you by bi
describing a parent, child, or other family member who is connected to you by birth, not through adoption or marriage.
Yusuf was adopted as a baby and has never met his biological mother.
biological mother / father / parent — most common pairing
Although Sam raised the boys alone, he is not their biological father.
biological father in contrast with social/legal parent
After years of searching, Vesna finally found her biological siblings in Brazil.
The twins look nothing like their biological grandparents on either side of the family.
用法筆記
Always used before a noun and almost always with a close family word: mother, father, parent, child, son, daughter, sibling. Often signals a contrast with 'adoptive', 'step-', or 'foster'.
常見錯誤
3. used about a person's sex when it is decided by features they are born with, suc
used about a person's sex when it is decided by features they are born with, such as their genes and the body parts used for having babies, rather than the gender they feel themselves to be.
On the form, please write your biological sex as well as your gender identity.
biological sex contrasted with gender identity
Some sports leagues separate athletes by biological sex to keep competition fair.
biological sex in policy and sports contexts
Doctors note a baby's biological sex on the birth certificate within a few hours.
The study compared health risks across people of different biological sex and age groups.
- natal
technical; means 'at birth' (as in 'natal sex')
用法筆記
Almost always pairs with the noun 'sex'. The phrase is sensitive: it appears mostly in medical, legal, or sports contexts where the writer wants to draw a clear line between body-based sex and a person's gender identity.
常見錯誤
4. describing washing powders, soaps, and other cleaning products that contain natu
describing washing powders, soaps, and other cleaning products that contain natural body chemicals called enzymes to break down stains and dirt.
Kalani switched to a non-biological detergent because the enzymes irritated her son's skin.
non-biological as the common opposite
Biological washing powder works best on grease, blood, and grass stains.
biological washing powder + types of stains
Read the label carefully; some delicate fabrics should not be washed with biological detergents.
The supermarket near my flat in Manchester sells both biological and gentle baby-friendly soaps.
- enzyme-based
more descriptive; explains the active ingredient
- non-biological
the same product without enzymes, marketed for sensitive skin
用法筆記
Mainly British English, mostly heard with 'washing powder', 'detergent', 'liquid', or 'soap'. Often appears alongside or in contrast with 'non-biological', the gentler version made for sensitive skin.
常見錯誤
5. describing weapons or attacks that spread germs, viruses, or other tiny living o
describing weapons or attacks that spread germs, viruses, or other tiny living organisms in order to kill people, animals, or food crops.
United Nations inspectors searched the desert base for hidden biological weapons.
biological weapons — the most common pairing
Soldiers wore thick masks and suits to protect them from a possible biological attack.
biological attack / threat / agent
The new treaty bans every country from making or storing biological warfare materials.
Farmers worried that the strange disease in their cows might be a biological agent.
- germ
informal; 'germ warfare' is the everyday phrase for biological warfare
- bacteriological
older, narrower term limited to bacteria
用法筆記
Almost always before nouns like 'weapon', 'warfare', 'attack', 'agent', 'threat', or 'terrorism'. Often grouped with 'chemical' and 'nuclear' (e.g. 'CBRN', short for chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear).