noun

Gaia

GEYE-uh

Gaia (noun) means a way of describing the whole Earth as a single living, self-regulating system. Example: “Some environmental scientists talk about Gaia as though the planet were one giant organism.”

noun

A way of describing the whole Earth as a single living, self-regulating system.

"Some environmental scientists talk about Gaia as though the planet were one giant organism."

"The documentary explored the idea of Gaia and how ecosystems balance each other."

name

In Greek mythology, the goddess who personified the Earth itself and was the ancestor of the other gods.

"In Greek myth, Gaia gave birth to the sky god Uranus."

A woman's given name inspired by the idea of Mother Earth.

"They named their daughter Gaia after the Earth goddess."

How to use Gaia

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither the Earth-goddess of Greek myth, or the scientific idea of Earth as one big interconnected living system.

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Some environmental scientists talk about _____ as though the planet were one giant organism.

Etymology

From the Ancient Greek Gaia, the personified Earth. Scientist James Lovelock borrowed the name in 1979 for his theory that the planet behaves like a single self-regulating organism.

Origin: Ancient Greek · First attested 1979

Class of 1979 Gaia joined the language around 1979.

walkman

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Rhymes for Gaia

IA Odia aria Asia India Syria Bahia mania Latvia acacia Zambia Russia

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Frequently asked questions

What does “Gaia” mean?

The word “Gaia” means a way of describing the whole Earth as a single living, self-regulating system. In plain terms, either the Earth-goddess of Greek myth, or the scientific idea of Earth as one big interconnected living system.

How do you pronounce “Gaia”?

“Gaia” is pronounced GEYE-uh (/ˈɡaɪə/ in IPA).

How do you use “Gaia” in a sentence?

Here is “Gaia” used in a sentence: “Some environmental scientists talk about Gaia as though the planet were one giant organism.”

What part of speech is “Gaia”?

Depending on how it is used, “Gaia” can be a noun and a name.

Where does the word “Gaia” come from?

The word “Gaia” dates back to around 1979 and comes from Ancient Greek. From the Ancient Greek Gaia, the personified Earth. Scientist James Lovelock borrowed the name in 1979 for his theory that the planet behaves like a single self-regulating organism.

How many meanings does “Gaia” have?

“Gaia” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a way of describing the whole Earth as a single living, self-regulating system.