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Glite Dictionary
theory of organic evolution

theory of organic evolution

4.8
A scientific idea that living things slowly change and share common ancestors
  • noun
  • /ˈθiəri əv ɔrˈɡænɪk ˌɛvəˈluːʃən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : teoría de la evolución orgánica
  • The theory of organic evolution suggests that all species are connected through common ancestry.

Examples

  • Darwin's theory of organic evolution explains how species adapt and change over time through natural selection.

  • Darwin is most famous for developing the theory of organic evolution, fundamentally changing how we view life on Earth.

  • Some textbooks present the theory of organic evolution alongside other explanations for the diversity of life.

  • The theory of organic evolution revolutionized our understanding of biology.

  • Darwin's theory of organic evolution is widely accepted today.

  • The theory of organic evolution provides a framework for understanding the relationships between different species.

  • Many scientists support the theory of organic evolution as the best explanation for the diversity of life on Earth.

Synonyms

theory of evolution
vstheory of organic evolution
  • Specialized
14 3.9

The idea that living things change over time by natural selection

is broader, naming general evolutionary processes rather than a specific mechanism
evolutionism
vstheory of organic evolution
  • Specialized
1 7.2

The scientific theory that plants and animals developed from earlier forms over time

is more about origin and development of plants and animals than broad diversification
organic evolution
vstheory of organic evolution
  • Specialized
1 4.7

Living things change slowly over many years to form new species

is the scientific theory explaining how that gradual process produces species
phylogenesis
vstheory of organic evolution
  • Specialized
9.9

The way a group of living things changes over a long time to form new species

is broader, covering origin and development across many species of plants and animals

How Accepted

law
  • Specialized
206 5.0
theory of organic evolution
  • Specialized
4.8
theory
∞ 3.2
hypothesis
138 6.1
proposal
817 2.9
speculation
288 4.8

Surface Forms

theory of organic evolution singular
theories of organic evolution plural

Morphology

theory + of + organic + evolution

The phrase is fully compositional: 'theory' (set of ideas) + 'of' (possessive/relational) + 'organic' (relating to living organisms) + 'evolution' (change of species over time) yields a theory that explains biological evolution. This follows a standard noun-of-noun construction found across languages, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents can reliably infer the meaning.

Etymology

Theory of organic evolution may come from the image of a single family tree of life: organic means living things and evolution means slow change and branching into new forms. So the phrase points to the idea 'that living species change over time and are connected by common ancestors'.