The branch of science that deals with living organisms as objects of study, apart from any utilitarian value they may have, and now comprising more…

= organonomy, n.

(a) natural science, the study of nature; (b) the branch of geology that deals with the structure and composition of rocks, as distinct from their…

any of the branches of biology; these sciences collectively (= biology, n. 2); cf. life science n. at life, n. compounds 3.

A branch of knowledge dealing with the laws of organic life.

= biological science n. at biological, adj. n.compounds; (also) any of various social sciences (now rare).

Biology; the life sciences.

In plural. slang (originally U.S.). Biology, as a subject of study; spec. bacteriology, or a department for this. Now somewhat rare.

Originally: a biological science; biological sciences collectively. Later also spec. (esp. in non-specialist usage): biotechnology or genetic…

= biology, n. 2.