biomass
UK /ˈbaɪə(ʊ)mæs/ · US /ˈbaɪoʊˌmæs/ noun
Forms biomasses
- noun (biology) The total mass of a living thing or a part thereof (such as a cell).
- noun (biology) The total mass of all, or a specified category of, living things within a specific area, habitat, etc.
- noun Organic matter derived from living things that were recently alive (especially vegetation) used as a fuel or source of energy, especially if cultivated for that purpose; also, fuel produced from such organic matter; biofuel.
Etymology
From bio- (prefix denoting organic life) + mass (“matter, material”).
Sources: Wiktionary — from the Wiktionary entry “biomass”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details