-ology, -logy, -ologist, -logist

(Greek: a suffix meaning: to talk, to speak; a branch of knowledge; any science or academic field that ends in -ology which is a variant of -logy; a person who speaks in a certain manner; someone who deals with certain topics or subjects)

The word -ology is a back-formation from the names of certain disciplines. The -logy element basically means "the study of ____". Such words are formed from Greek or Latin roots with the terminal -logy derived from the Greek suffix -λογια (-logia), speaking, from λεγειν (legein), "to speak".

The suffix -ology is considered to be misleading sometimes as when the "o" is actually part of the word stem that receives the -logy ending; such as, bio + logy.

Through the years -ology and -logy have come to mean, "study of" or "science of" and either of these suffixes often utilize the form of -ologist, "one who (whatever the preceding element refers to)".

The examples shown in this unit represent just a small fraction of the many words that exist in various dictionaries.

biometeorology
1. Study of the effects of atmospheric conditions (weather) on living organisms.
2. That branch of ecology that deals with the effects on living organisms of the extra-organic aspects of the physical environment; such as, temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, rate of air flow, and air ionization.

It involves not only natural atmosphere but also artificially created atmospheres; such as, those to be found in buildings and shelters, and in closed ecological systems; for example, satellites and submarines.

biomythology
Mythological creatures; such as, centaurs, unicorns, icthyocentaurs, chimeras, the sphinx, etc.
bionanotechnology
1. The harnessing of biological processes on an ultra-small scale in the manufacture and alteration of materials and products.
2. A branch of nanotechnology that either uses biological starting materials, biological design principles, or has biological applications.
3. The practical application of biological knowledge and techniques for industrial purposes; for example, fermentation.
4. The use of contemporary biological techniques to produce new substances or to perform new functions; for example, recombinant DNA technology.
biophysiologist
One who investigates the physiology of living beings.
biophysiology
That part of biology that includes organogeny, morphology, and physiology.
biopsychology (s) (noun), biopsychologies (pl)
An interdisciplinary area of study involving psychology, biology, physiology, biochemistry, the neural sciences, and related fields: "Derrick is a university student majoring in biopsychology so he can work in the branch of psychology that deals with the biological foundations of behavior, emotions, and mental processes."
biorheology
1. The science concerned with deformation (process of adapting in shape or form) and flow in biological systems.
2. The study of the deformation and flow of matter in living systems and in materials directly derived from them.
biospeleologist
Someone who specializes in the study of organisms that live in caves.
biospeleology
1. The study of organisms whose natural habitat is wholly or partly subterranean.
2. The study of the fauna of caves.
3. The study of organisms that live in caves.
biotechnologist
A professional who uses living organisms, or other biological systems, in the manufacture of drugs, or other products, or for environmental management; such as, in waste recycling.
biotechnology, biotech
1. The branch of technology concerned with the development and exploitation of machines in relation to the various needs of human beings.
2. The branch of technology concerned with modern forms of industrial production utilizing living organisms, especially micro-organisms, and their biological processes; including such ancient endeavors as the use of yeast in preparing bread for baking, and such modern concepts as genetic engineering.
3. The application of technology to biological processes for industrial, agricultural, and medical purposes.

Examples include bacteria; such as, Penicillium and Streptomycin are used to produce antibiotics and fermenting yeasts produce alcohol in beer and wine manufacture.

Genetic engineering now enables the large-scale production of hormones, blood serum proteins, and other medically important products.

Genetic modification of farm crops offers improved protection against pests, or products with novel characteristics; such as, new flavors, colors, or extended storage properties.

Biotechnology: Traditional Chinese medicine for global market
biotoxicology
1. The study of poisons produced by living organisms (plants or animals), their causes, detections, and their effects, and of the treatment of those conditions produced by them.
2. The branch of toxicology concerned with biotoxins (poisons produced by and derived from the cells or secretions of a living organism, either plant or animal).
biotypology
The study of anthropological types with their constitutional variations, inadequacies, etc.
borborology (bohr" buh RUHL uh jee) (s) (noun), borborologies (pl)
1. A study of the noises made in the stomach and intestines during the digestion of food: Karen's physician was using a form of borborology with a stethoscope to diagnose the extent of her abdominal discomfort.
2. Originally, a gross language; foul or filthy talk; possibly from Greek borboros, "filth" + -logia, "speak, talk", but it can not be verified by any authorized source.
Cross references of word families related directly, or indirectly, to: "talk, speak, speech; words, language; tongue, etc.": cit-; clam-; dic-; fa-; -farious; glosso-; glotto-; lalo-; linguo-; locu-; logo-; loqu-; mythico-; ora-; -phasia; -phemia; phon-; phras-; Quotes: Language,Part 1; Quotes: Language, Part 2; Quotes: Language, Part 3; serm-; tongue; voc-.