Word Study
inorganic
CIDE DICTIONARY
inorganic, a. [Pref. in- not + organic: cf. F. inorganique.].
- Not organic; without the organs necessary for life; devoid of an organized structure; unorganized; lifeness; inanimate. [1913 Webster]
- Of or pertaining to compounds that are not derivatives of hydrocarbons; not organic{5}. [PJC]" 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 substances. See
Organic {5}." [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
inorganic, 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.
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.
Idiom
inorganic chemistry the chemistry of inorganic compounds.
Derivative
inorganically adv.
ROGET THESAURUS
inorganic
Inorganization
N inorganization, mineral world, mineral kingdom, unorganized matter, inorganic matter, brute matter, inanimate matter, mineralogy, geology, geognosy, geoscopy, metallurgy, metallography, lithology, oryctology, oryctography, inorganic, inanimate, inorganized, lithoidal, azoic, mineral.For further exploring for "inorganic" in Webster Dictionary Online