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bi·o·de·grad·a·ble
 biodegradable
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- pronunciation:
- baI
o
d
greI
d
bl
- features:
- Word Combinations (adjective), Word Parts
| part of speech: |
adjective |
| definition: |
subject to decomposition by the action of living organisms such as bacteria.
Paper is biodegradable, but aluminum is not.- similar words:
- perishable
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| related words: |
organic |
adverb + (adj.)biodegradable
completely, currently, easily, environmentally, fully, totally
(adj.)biodegradable
+ noun
adhesive,
amount,
bag,
bamboo,
box,
brand,
carpet,
carton,
cell,
cleaner,
cleaning,
cleanser,
collagen,
compost,
condom,
container,
cornstarch,
decoy,
detergent,
device,
diaper,
diesel,
dish,
dye,
electricity,
enzyme,
escape,
fabric,
fiber,
film,
food,
formula,
fraction,
friendly,
fuel,
garbage,
grease,
ingredient,
input,
label,
landfill,
laundry,
liner,
manufacturer,
manufacturing,
market,
material,
ozone,
packaging,
packing,
paint,
panel,
paper,
peanut,
plastic,
plate,
polyester,
polymer,
pot,
pound,
powder,
product,
researcher,
resin,
scaffold,
shroud,
soap,
straw,
stripper,
substance,
suture,
switch,
take-out,
term,
toilet,
trap,
trash,
use,
utensil,
vaccine,
waste,
water
[See all][See only the most frequent]
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| derivation: |
biodegradability (n.) |
The word biodegradable
contains the following parts:
de-
Latin
prefix
that means from; away from; down from; reverse, negate.
  Example words:
biodegradable, debase, debate, decay, deceive, deception, decide, decision, decline, decode, decriminalize, deduct, defer, defoliant, deform, defy, degrade, dehydrate, deject, delete, demagnetize, demerit, demoralize, demote, depend, deplete, deport, depose, deprive, descend, describe, description, desegregate, design, designate, despicable, despise, detach, detect, detract, devolve, indefeasible, independence, indescribable, indestructible
- synonyms:
- dis-, un-
bio, bi, -be
Greek
root
that means life, living, living things
Example words:
abiogenesis, abiotic, aerobatics, aerobe, aerobic, aerobics, aerobiology, agrobiology, amphibian, amphibious, anabiosis, anaerobe, anaerobic, antibiosis, autobiography, bioastronautics, biochemistry, biocide, biodegradable, bioengineering, biofeedback, biogeography, biography, biohazard, biological, biology, bioluminescence, biomass, biomedicine, biometrics, bionics, biophysics, biopsy, biorhythm, biosphere, biotic, biotin, exobiology, macrobiotics, microbe, microbiology, molecular biology, parabiosis, psychobiology, radiobiology, sociobiology, symbiosis
grad, -grade
Latin
root
that means go, step, degree
Example words:
biodegradable, centigrade, degrade, downgrade, gradate, gradation, grade, gradient, gradual, graduate, ingredient, plantigrade, postgraduate, retrograde, upgrade
-able, -ible, -ble
Latin
adjective-forming suffix
that means capable of being, doing, or undergoing
More about this word part:
The suffix -able
, and its variants, is attached to Latin verb roots or English transitive verbs to form adjectives. (In a small set of cases, -able
is attached to a noun, e.g. knowledgeable and marriageable.) For spelling purposes, it is useful to know that -able
is more likely to be added to a whole English word (comparable
, adorable
), while -ible
is more likely to follow a bound root (visible
, legible
). However,there are still many words which combine a root with -able
(capable
, inevitable
). The suffix -ity can be added to any adjective ending in -able
, -ible
, -ble
to produce a corresponding noun ending in -ability, -ibility, -bility (possible
+ -ity > possibility; irrevocable
+ -ity > irrevocability.)
Example words:
acceptable, accessible, admissible, adorable, amiable, amicable, audible, avoidable, believable, bearable, biodegradable, capable, calculable, cognizable, comparable, compatible, comprehensible, conformable, conversable, convertible, corrigible, credible, creditable, curable, dependable, despicable, disagreeable, disposable, divisible, eligible, explicable, flammable, flexible, illegible, illimitable, imaginable, immiscible, immovable, immutable, impalpable, impassable, impeccable, impermeable, impermissible, imperturbable, implacable, implausible, imponderable, impossible, impregnable, inalienable, inaudible, incapable, incalculable, incommunicable, incomprehensible, inconceivable, detectable, conceivable, incorrigible, incredible, incurable, indefeasible, indelible, indescribable, indestructible, indivisible, indomitable, ineligible, ineluctable, ineradicable, inescapable, inevitable, inexorable, inexpiable, inexplicable, infallible, inhospitable, inimitable, inscrutable, inseparable, insuperable, intangible, interminable, intractable, invaluable, invariable, invincible, invisible, irrefragable, irrefutable, irremissible, irreparable, irreversible, irrevocable, legible, likable, lovable, manageable, measurable, movable, navigable, notable, opposable, palpable, perishable, permissible, placable, portable, possible, potable, predictable, preferable, prescriptible, recognizable, remissible, reprehensible, reversible, risible, semipermeable, sensible, superable, susceptible, tangible, tenable, tolerable, tractable, transmissible, unsupportable, usable, viable, visible, washable, affordable, allowable, reliable, remarkable, approachable, disputable, drinkable, durable, eatable, renewable, sustainable, unshakable
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