non-living

/ˌnɒnˈlɪv.ɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌnɑːnˈlɪv.ɪŋ/ (ame, ipa)

non-living — adjective

1. used to describe rocks, water, air, and other things in nature that have never b

1.形容詞B2
釋義

used to describe rocks, water, air, and other things in nature that have never been a plant, animal, or any other living being.

例句

In science class, Nia sorted the leaves from the non-living stones and sand.

attributive: non-living + noun, contrasted with living things

Soil, sunlight, and water are the main non-living parts of a forest.

listing non-living elements of an environment

同義詞
  • lifeless

    more emotional; suggests an absence of energy or movement, not just biology

  • inanimate

    more formal; common in grammar and physics for objects without life

  • abiotic

    technical ecology term for non-living factors like temperature and minerals

反義詞
  • living

    describes plants, animals, and other things that are alive

  • biotic

    the technical ecology pair with abiotic

文法句型

non-living + noun

用法筆記

Almost always used before a noun (non-living matter, non-living things) rather than after 'be'. Common in biology and ecology when contrasting with the living parts of an environment.

常見錯誤

❌The flower is non-living now that it died.
✅The flower is dead now.
💡'non-living' is for things that were never alive, not things that have died; use 'dead' for once-living things.