Physiology

//ˌfɪziˈɒləd͡ʒi// noun

noun ·Moderate ·College level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A branch of biology that deals with the functions and activities of life or of living matter (as organs, tissues, or cells) and of the physical and chemical phenomena involved. countable, uncountable

    "So he clung to the sides of the vertical tunnel, le wormhole, employing the setules covering his legs, that is, millions of tiny spider-hairs with triangular tips, a wall-creeper physiology if you wish, a hang-upside-down-from-the-ceiling anatomical boon."

  2. 2
    processes and functions of an organism wordnet
  3. 3
    The biology and/or form of a living organism. countable, uncountable
  4. 4
    the branch of the biological sciences dealing with the functioning of organisms wordnet
  5. 5
    The study and description of natural objects; natural science. countable, obsolete, uncountable

Example

More examples

"Human physiology is a three-credit course."

Etymology

From French physiologie, from Latin physiologia, from Ancient Greek φυσιολογία (phusiología, “natural philosophy”), from φύσις (phúsis, “nature”) + λόγος (lógos, “word”). Equivalent to physio- + -logy.

Related phrases

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.