ecological

Everyday

1. Ecological means to do with ecology, the study of how living things live together and depend on each other and on their surroundings. tree →
2. Ecological also means caring for nature and the environment, as in ecological farming. tree →

In the lessons

Science and geography lessons: food chains, habitats, ecosystems, pollution. In news, ecological damage or an ecological disaster means harm to nature. Phrases: ecological balance, ecological damage, ecological footprint, ecological disaster.

Examples

• Cutting down the forest caused ecological damage. tree →
• Bees play a big ecological role by pollinating flowers. tree →
• The oil spill was an ecological disaster for the birds. tree →
• An ecological footprint shows how much of the Earth's resources we use. tree →
• The pond is a small ecological system with frogs, snails and plants. tree →
• Our school garden uses ecological ways to stop pests, like ladybirds. tree →

Note

Say «ee-ko-LOJ-ik-al» or «ek-o-». Ecology is the science; ecological describes it; eco- is a short prefix (eco-friendly). Similar to «environmental» but more about how living things connect.