Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun The scientific study of the possible origin, distribution, evolution, and future of life in the universe, including that on Earth, using a combination of methods from biology, chemistry, and astronomy.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun exobiology; -- not used technically.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun the branch of biology concerned with the effects of outer space on living organisms and the search for extraterrestrial life

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

astro- +‎ biology

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Examples

  • It appears astrobiology is the funding source for the methane study, If you think this effort is worth funding please state so, I happen to think it was worth the effort if they are correct which is still open in my mind.

    Weiler Seeks to Cut NASA Access to Keck Observatory - NASA Watch 2009

  • A new book on astrobiology is out from a pair of American scientists, and it pegs the end of all life on earth at 500 million years from now.

    Boing Boing: January 12, 2003 - January 18, 2003 Archives 2003

  • The subject matter of astrobiology is fascinating.

    Baruch S. Blumberg - Autobiography 1977

  • And why was such a thoroughly earthly endeavor classified as "astrobiology" -- a discipline that sounds like the day job of the Enterprise's Science Officer?

    Seth Shostak: Life, But Not As We Know It Seth Shostak 2010

  • And why was such a thoroughly earthly endeavor classified as "astrobiology" -- a discipline that sounds like the day job of the Enterprise's Science Officer?

    Seth Shostak: Life, But Not As We Know It Seth Shostak 2010

  • And why was such a thoroughly earthly endeavor classified as "astrobiology" -- a discipline that sounds like the day job of the Enterprise's Science Officer?

    Seth Shostak: Life, But Not As We Know It Seth Shostak 2010

  • And why was such a thoroughly earthly endeavor classified as "astrobiology" -- a discipline that sounds like the day job of the Enterprise's Science Officer?

    Seth Shostak: Life, But Not As We Know It Seth Shostak 2010

  • And why was such a thoroughly earthly endeavor classified as "astrobiology" -- a discipline that sounds like the day job of the Enterprise's Science Officer?

    Seth Shostak: Life, But Not As We Know It Seth Shostak 2010

  • Exobiology sometimes also called astrobiology or xenobiology is the term for the study of both extraterrestrial life and the effects of outer space on living things.

    Week in Words Erin McKean 2011

  • The researchers are part of a new scientific discipline called astrobiology, which blends astronomy, biology, chemistry and physics in an effort to identify life in the universe.

    Hello, Out There! The New Science Of Astrobiology 2008

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