metaorganism
1
9.9
An animal or plant together with the tiny living things that live on and inside it
- noun
- /ˌmɛtəˈɔrgənɪzəm/
- Specialized
:
metaorganismo
- Researchers are studying the metaorganism to understand how our health is influenced by the tiny microorganisms that inhabit us.
Examples
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A metaorganism is a fascinating concept because it shows how an individual organism interacts with its microbial community.
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I'd say one well-known example of the theocratic turn in environmentalism is James Lovelock, since he popularized the idea that the Earth is a metaorganism that cares about its own survival, even calling it Gaia.
Blog text (13) -
The human body, when considered a metaorganism, includes not only its cells but also the bacteria that live in our gut.
Surface Forms
metaorganism singular
metaorganisms plural
Morphology
Etymology
The word metaorganism is made of meta- meaning 'together with' and organism meaning 'a living body'. So a metaorganism is a living body plus all its tiny living helpers, like bacteria and fungi, that live with it.