inorganic

/ˌɪnɔːˈɡænɪk/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌɪnɔːrˈɡænɪk/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌin-(ˌ)ȯr-ˈga-nik/ (ame, mw)

inorganic — adjective

  • inorganicpositive
  • more inorganiccomparative
  • most inorganicsuperlative

1. not made of or coming from any living plant, animal, or other organism; describi

1.形容詞B2
釋義

not made of or coming from any living plant, animal, or other organism; describing chemical substances that do not contain carbon atoms bonded to hydrogen

例句

The soil sample contained high levels of inorganic minerals like calcium and iron.

collocation: inorganic minerals

Rosa chose to study inorganic chemistry because she enjoys working with metals and crystals.

subject: academic field (inorganic chemistry)

同義詞
  • mineral

    more specific; refers to substances taken from the ground or rocks rather than a general chemical class

  • non-living

    broader and less technical; can describe anything that has never been alive

  • inanimate

    focuses on the lack of life or movement rather than chemical composition

反義詞
  • organic

    describes carbon-based compounds or matter from living organisms

  • living

    describes things that are currently alive or derived from living matter

用法筆記

This term is most common in scientific contexts, especially chemistry and earth science. It contrasts with 'organic', which describes carbon-based compounds or things derived from living organisms.

常見錯誤

❌This apple is inorganic because it was grown with chemical sprays.
✅This apple was grown with chemical sprays, but the apple itself is organic (from a living thing).
💡'inorganic' describes things that do not come from living things, not food grown without organic farming methods.
❌I bought inorganic vegetables at the market.
✅I bought vegetables grown with inorganic fertilizers.
💡vegetables are living things, so they are organic; only the added chemicals are inorganic.