biological

/ˌbaɪəˈlɒdʒɪkl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌbaɪəˈlɑːdʒɪkl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌbī-ə-ˈlä-ji-kəl/ (ame, mw)

biological — 形容詞

1. relating to plants, animals, and other living things, or to the way their bodies

1.形容詞B2
釋義

生物的

與生物或身體運作過程有關的

relating to plants, animals, and other living things, or to the way their bodies grow, work, and reproduce.

例句

Dr. Mira studies the biological clock that tells birds when to migrate south.

Mira 博士研究告訴鳥類何時南遷的生理時鐘。

biological + noun (clock, process, system)

Stress can cause real biological changes inside your body, not just in your mood.

壓力會在你體內引發真實的生理變化，不只是影響心情。

biological changes / effects on the body

同義詞
  • physiological

    more technical; focuses on how the body works

  • organic

    broader; can also mean 'natural' or 'without chemicals'

用法筆記

Always before a noun in this sense. Distinguish from sense 2 (about family/birth relationships): here the focus is on bodies, cells, or scientific study, not on who someone's parent or child is.

常見錯誤

❌My headache is very biological today.
✅My headache has a biological cause, probably low blood sugar.
💡'biological' describes processes, systems, or causes, not how strong a feeling is.

2. describing a parent, child, or other family member who is connected to you by bi

2.形容詞B2
釋義

親生的

因出生而有血緣關係的

describing a parent, child, or other family member who is connected to you by birth, not through adoption or marriage.

例句

Yusuf was adopted as a baby and has never met his biological mother.

Yusuf 從小就被收養，從未見過他的親生母親。

biological mother / father / parent — most common pairing

Although Sam raised the boys alone, he is not their biological father.

雖然 Sam 獨自把這些男孩帶大，他並不是他們的親生父親。

biological father in contrast with social/legal parent

同義詞
  • natural

    older usage; 'natural mother' has a similar meaning

  • birth

    as in 'birth mother' — same idea, more common in adoption contexts

  • blood

    as in 'blood relative' — informal, emphasises shared ancestry

反義詞
  • adoptive

    of a parent who legally takes someone as their child

  • foster

    of a temporary parent or family

  • step-

    as in stepmother, stepfather — through marriage, not birth

用法筆記

Always used before a noun and almost always with a close family word: mother, father, parent, child, son, daughter, sibling. Often signals a contrast with 'adoptive', 'step-', or 'foster'.

常見錯誤

❌She is my biological friend.
✅She is my biological sister.
💡'biological' only fits family connections from birth, not friendships.

3. used about a person's sex when it is decided by features they are born with, suc

3.形容詞
釋義

生理性別的

依出生時身體特徵判定的性別

used about a person's sex when it is decided by features they are born with, such as their genes and the body parts used for having babies, rather than the gender they feel themselves to be.

例句

On the form, please write your biological sex as well as your gender identity.

請在表格上同時填寫你的生理性別和性別認同。

biological sex contrasted with gender identity

Some sports leagues separate athletes by biological sex to keep competition fair.

有些運動聯盟依生理性別分組，以維持比賽的公平。

biological sex in policy and sports contexts

同義詞
  • natal

    technical; means 'at birth' (as in 'natal sex')

用法筆記

Almost always pairs with the noun 'sex'. The phrase is sensitive: it appears mostly in medical, legal, or sports contexts where the writer wants to draw a clear line between body-based sex and a person's gender identity.

常見錯誤

❌My biological gender is female.
✅My biological sex is female.
💡pair 'biological' with 'sex'; 'gender' refers to identity and roles, not body features at birth.

4. describing washing powders, soaps, and other cleaning products that contain natu

4.形容詞
釋義

含酵素的

添加酵素分解污漬的清潔用品

describing washing powders, soaps, and other cleaning products that contain natural body chemicals called enzymes to break down stains and dirt.

例句

Kalani switched to a non-biological detergent because the enzymes irritated her son's skin.

Kalani 改用無酵素的洗衣精，因為酵素會讓她兒子的皮膚過敏。

non-biological as the common opposite

Biological washing powder works best on grease, blood, and grass stains.

含酵素的洗衣粉對油漬、血漬和草漬最有效。

biological washing powder + types of stains

同義詞
  • enzyme-based

    more descriptive; explains the active ingredient

反義詞
  • non-biological

    the same product without enzymes, marketed for sensitive skin

用法筆記

Mainly British English, mostly heard with 'washing powder', 'detergent', 'liquid', or 'soap'. Often appears alongside or in contrast with 'non-biological', the gentler version made for sensitive skin.

常見錯誤

❌I bought a biological soap from the lab.
✅I bought a biological washing powder from the supermarket.
💡in this sense, it labels everyday cleaning products with enzymes, not lab chemicals.

5. describing weapons or attacks that spread germs, viruses, or other tiny living o

5.形容詞
釋義

生化的

利用病菌或微生物攻擊的

describing weapons or attacks that spread germs, viruses, or other tiny living organisms in order to kill people, animals, or food crops.

例句

United Nations inspectors searched the desert base for hidden biological weapons.

聯合國調查員在沙漠基地搜尋藏匿的生化武器。

biological weapons — the most common pairing

Soldiers wore thick masks and suits to protect them from a possible biological attack.

士兵穿著厚重的面罩和防護衣，以抵禦可能的生物攻擊。

biological attack / threat / agent

同義詞
  • germ

    informal; 'germ warfare' is the everyday phrase for biological warfare

  • bacteriological

    older, narrower term limited to bacteria

用法筆記

Almost always before nouns like 'weapon', 'warfare', 'attack', 'agent', 'threat', or 'terrorism'. Often grouped with 'chemical' and 'nuclear' (e.g. 'CBRN', short for chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear).

常見錯誤

❌The country signed a treaty against biological tools.
✅The country signed a treaty against biological weapons.
💡'biological' in this sense pairs with words for warfare, not general 'tools' or 'devices'.