organic Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a fertilizer that is derived from animal or vegetable matter
    organic fertilizer; organic fertiliser.
  2. adjective relating or belonging to the class of chemical compounds having a carbon basis
    • hydrocarbons are organic compounds
  3. adjective being or relating to or derived from or having properties characteristic of living organisms
    • organic life
    • organic growth
    • organic remains found in rock
  4. adjective involving or affecting physiology or bodily organs
    • an organic disease
  5. adjective satellite of or relating to foodstuff grown or raised without synthetic fertilizers or pesticides or hormones
    • organic eggs
    • organic vegetables
    • organic chicken
  6. adjective satellite simple and healthful and close to nature
    • an organic lifestyle
  7. adjective satellite constitutional in the structure of something (especially your physical makeup)
    constituent; constitutional; constitutive.

WordNet

Or*gan"ic adjective
Etymology
L. organicus, Gr. : cf. F. organique.
Definitions
  1. (Biol.) Of or pertaining to an organ or its functions, or to objects composed of organs; consisting of organs, or containing them; as, the organic structure of animals and plants; exhibiting characters peculiar to living organisms; as, organic bodies, organic life, organic remains. Cf. Inorganic.
  2. Produced by the organs; as, organic pleasure. R.
  3. Instrumental; acting as instruments of nature or of art to a certain destined function or end. R.
    Those organic arts which enable men to discourse and write perspicuously. Milton.
  4. Forming a whole composed of organs. Hence: Of or pertaining to a system of organs; inherent in, or resulting from, a certain organization; as, an organic government; his love of truth was not inculcated, but organic.
  5. Pertaining to, or denoting, any one of the large series of substances which, in nature or origin, are connected with vital processes, and include many substances of artificial production which may or may not occur in animals or plants; -- contrasted with inorganic. ✍ The principles of organic and inorganic chemistry are identical; but the enormous number and the completeness of related series of organic compounds, together with their remarkable facility of exchange and substitution, offer an illustration of chemical reaction and homology not to be paralleled in inorganic chemistry.

Webster 1913