Definition

1. Noun:
   • A living individual: An organism is a complete living entity that can carry out life processes such as growth, reproduction, and response to stimuli. It can be a plant, animal, fungus, bacterium, or other life form.
   • A complex structure with interdependent parts: An organism can also refer to any complex system whose parts work together in a manner analogous to a living body.

Usage and Examples

• Referring to a living entity:
  • A single-celled organism, like an amoeba, can be seen under a microscope.
  • The forest is home to a diverse range of organisms.
• Referring to a complex system:
  • The corporation functioned as a single, efficient organism.
  • The entire political body was a delicate organism that could be easily disrupted.

Advanced Usage

• "Social organism": A term used to describe a society or community as a complex, interconnected system functioning like a living body.
  • In his writings, he often described the city as a vast social organism.

Variants and Related Words

• Microorganism (n): A microscopic organism, such as a bacterium or virus.
  • Handwashing helps eliminate harmful microorganisms.
• Organismic (adj): Relating to or characteristic of an organism.
  • The study focused on the organismic response to environmental stress.

Synonyms

• Being: A living creature.
• Life form: An individual living entity.
• Entity: Something that exists as a distinct unit.

Different Meanings

• Primary Meaning: A living individual (biological context).
• Figurative Meaning: Any complex system with interconnected and coordinated parts (societal or mechanical context).

Idioms and Phrases

• No direct idioms are commonly formed with the standalone word "organism." The word is typically used in its literal or figurative senses as described above.

Noun

1. a system considered analogous in structure or function to a living body
   • the social organism
2. a living thing that has (or can develop) the ability to act or function independently