noun
biosphere
BEYE-oh-sfeer
Biosphere (noun) means the zone of the Earth's surface, water, and atmosphere where life exists. Example: “Human activity has put growing pressure on the biosphere.”
noun
1
The zone of the Earth's surface, water, and atmosphere where life exists.
"Human activity has put growing pressure on the biosphere."
"Scientists study how the biosphere responds to climate change."
How to use biosphere
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAll the parts of the planet — land, sea, and air — where living things can survive.
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Word forms
- Plural
- biospheres
Fill the gap
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Human activity has put growing pressure on the _____.
Etymology
From Greek bios ("life") and sphaira ("sphere"), coined in the late 19th century.
Class of 1800
biosphere joined the language around 1800.
See the full Class of 1800 →
Rhymes for biosphere
See all rhymes for biosphere →Frequently asked questions
What does “biosphere” mean?
The word “biosphere” means the zone of the Earth's surface, water, and atmosphere where life exists. In plain terms, all the parts of the planet — land, sea, and air — where living things can survive.
How do you pronounce “biosphere”?
“Biosphere” is pronounced BEYE-oh-sfeer (/ˈbaɪəʊˌsfɪə(ɹ)/ in IPA).
How do you use “biosphere” in a sentence?
Here is “biosphere” used in a sentence: “Human activity has put growing pressure on the biosphere.”
What part of speech is “biosphere”?
“Biosphere” is a noun.
Where does the word “biosphere” come from?
The word “biosphere” dates back to around 1800 and comes from Greek. From Greek bios ("life") and sphaira ("sphere"), coined in the late 19th century.
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