ENGLISH
REFERENCE

biotech

n. uncountable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈbaɪoʊˌtɛk// UK //bˌaɪəʊtˈɛk// biotech

n. the use of living things like bacteria or cells to make products, such as new medicines or better crops.

n. the application of biological systems, living organisms, or derivatives thereof to develop or create products and technologies. Often refers specifically to the industry involving genetic engineering and molecular biology.


SIMPLE

She works for a biotech company that develops new vaccines.

CONTEXTUAL

Advances in biotech have allowed scientists to create crops that can survive in very dry soil.

COMPLEX

The rapid growth of the biotech sector has sparked intense ethical debates regarding the patenting of genetic sequences and the long-term ecological impact of modified organisms.

Synonyms
Origin

Clipping of biotechnology. Analyzable as bio- (“biological”) + tech (“technology”) or as a clipped compound, bio(logical) tech(nology).

Usage

Commonly used as a modifier before other nouns, such as in 'biotech firm' or 'biotech industry'.

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