bio

¹

[bahy-oh]

noun

plural

bios 

1. biography.

2. biology.

adjective

1. biographical.

2. biological.

   a bio control service using praying mantises to reduce the population of garden pests.

bio-

²

1. a combining form meaning “life” occurring in loanwords from Greek (biography ); on this model, used in the formation of compound words (bioluminescence ).

bio-

¹

combining form

1. indicating or involving life or living organisms

   biogenesis

   biolysis

2. indicating a human life or career

   biography

   biopic

bio

²

/ ˈbaɪəʊ /

noun

1. short for biography

Word History and Origins

Origin of bio¹

1945–50; by shortening; as adj., independent use of bio-, taken as a free form

Origin of bio²

Combining form of Greek bíos life; akin to Latin vīvus living, Sanskrit jīvas. See quick

Word History and Origins

Origin of bio¹

from Greek bios life

Example Sentences

In his final days, Mr Dillard was visited at the hospice by a company called Bio Care.

From BBC

After her run-in with Bio Care, Ms Fasold hoped for a criminal prosecution.

From BBC

Bio Care's owner was initially charged with fraud, but the charge was later withdrawn because prosecutors could not prove an intent to deceive.

From BBC

But she was told that Bio Care had not broken any state criminal laws.

From BBC

Mr Dillard died on Christmas Eve, and within hours, a car from Bio Care pulled up outside the hospice and drove his body away.

From BBC

Related Words

• account 
• anecdote 
• autobiography 
• biography 
• chronicle 
• diary 
• essay 
• journal 
• life 
• life story www.thesaurus.com
• memory 
• narrative 
• note 
• recollection 
• reminiscence 
• thesis 
• treatise 

When To Use

What does bio- mean?

The combining form bio- is used like a prefix meaning “life.” It is often used in scientific terms, especially in biology.The form bio- comes from Greek bíos, meaning “life.” The Latin cognate of bíos is vīta, “life,” which is the source of words such as vital. Find out more at our entry for vital.What are variants of bio-?When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, bio- becomes bi-, as in biome. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use article for bi-.