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Definition

noun, plural: organisms

(Science: Biology)

An individual living thing that can react to stimuli, reproduce, grow, and maintain homeostasis. It can be a virus, bacterium, protist, fungus, plant or an animal.

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Word origin: Greek organon = instrument.
Related forms: organismic (adjective), organismal (adjective), organismically (adverb).
Synonym: living thing, living being, individual.