
April 24, 2016
- biosphere (noun)
- \BYE-uh-sfeer\
- What does it mean?
- : the part of the world in which life can exist
- How do you use it?
- Students will be studying different parts of the terrestrial biosphere including deserts, tundras, wetlands, grasslands, tropical rainforests, deciduous forests, and coniferous forests.
- Are you a word wiz?
"Biosphere" resulted from combining the word "sphere," which can be used to refer to a globe-shaped body as well as a model of the earth, and the combining form "bio-." What do you think the "bio-" in "biosphere" means?
The "bio-" in "biosphere" means "life" or "living organisms or tissue." This combining form, which is sometimes in the form "bi-," can also mean "biographical." Between these two meanings "bi-" or "bio-" plays a part in a number of words including "biology" and "biography." "Sphere" plays a part in words like "atmosphere" and "hemisphere."