biogeochemical
/ˌbaɪ.əʊˌdʒiː.əʊˈkɛm.ɪ.kəl/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
Connected with the chemical processes that happen in living things, rocks, water, and air together. It describes how elements move through nature in cycles.
- Carbon moves through a biogeochemical cycle.
- The report studied biogeochemical changes in the soil.
- Researchers track biogeochemical processes in the ocean.
Adinary Nuance
Biogeochemical is more specific than chemical or ecological. Use it when you mean the movement of elements or chemicals through living things and the Earth together. It sounds technical and is common in science writing, not everyday speech.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- sinh địa hóa
- Spanish
- biogeoquímico
- Chinese
- 生物地球化学
- Japanese
- 生物地球化学の
- Korean
- 생지화학의
Etymology
Built in modern scientific English from bio- meaning 'life', geo- meaning 'earth', and chemical. It became common in the 20th century in ecology and earth science.
Common phrases
biogeochemical cyclebiogeochemical processbiogeochemical changebiogeochemical research
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is biogeochemical a common everyday word?
- No. It is mainly used in science, especially ecology, geology, and environmental studies.
- What is the difference between biogeochemical and chemical?
- Chemical is broader. Biogeochemical means chemical changes linked to life and the Earth.
- How do I use biogeochemical in a sentence?
- Use it before a noun, like 'biogeochemical cycle' or 'biogeochemical process'.