Azoology

/ˌæzoʊˈɑːlədʒi/ noun

Definition

A rarely used term referring to the study of organisms living without oxygen or the study of organisms in a lifeless state; also sometimes used for the study of azo compounds in biological systems.

Etymology

From 'azo-' (nitrogen, or a-zo meaning without life) + '-logy' (study of). A highly specialized and uncommon scientific term from 19th-century biological or chemical terminology.

Kelly Says

Azoology is one of those scientific words that sounds impressive but almost nobody uses—it tries to describe either the study of anaerobic life or nitrogen chemistry in biology, making it a word caught between competing definitions.

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