Adjacent Words

Inorganic definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

INORGAN'IC
INORGAN'ICAL, a. [in and organic.] Devoid of organs; not formed with the organs or instruments of life; as the inorganic matter that forms the earth's surface.
Inorganic bodies, are such as have no organs, as minerals.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: relating or belonging to the class of compounds not having a carbon basis; "hydrochloric and sulfuric acids are called inorganic substances" [ant: organic]
2: lacking the properties characteristic of living organisms [ant: organic]

Merriam Webster's

adjective Date: 1794 1. a. (1) being or composed of matter other than plant or animal ; mineral (2) forming or belonging to the inanimate world b. of, relating to, or dealt with by a branch of chemistry concerned with substances not usually classed as organic 2. not arising from natural growth ; artificial; also lacking structure, character, or vitality <dull inorganic things, without individuality or prestige — John Buchan> • inorganically adverb

Oxford Reference Dictionary

adj. 1 Chem. (of a compound) not organic, usu. of mineral origin (opp. ORGANIC). 2 without organized physical structure. 3 not arising by natural growth; extraneous. 4 Philol. not explainable by normal etymology. Phrases and idioms: inorganic chemistry the chemistry of inorganic compounds. Derivatives: inorganically adv.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Inorganic In`or*gan"ic, a. [Pref. in- not + organic: cf. F. inorganique.] Not organic; without the organs necessary for life; devoid of an organized structure; unorganized; lifeness; inanimate; as, all chemical compounds are inorganic substances. Note: The term inorganic is used to denote any one the large series of substances (as minerals, metals, etc.), which are not directly connected with vital processes, either in origin or nature, and which are broadly and relatively contrasted with organic subscances. See Organic. Inorganic Chemistry. See under Chemistry.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

Inorganic substances are substances such as stone and metal that do not come from living things. ...roofing made from organic and inorganic fibres. ? organic ADJ: usu ADJ n

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

a.; (also inorganical) Unorganized, inanimate.