living thing
Creature that breathes
A living thing is any organism that exhibits the characteristics of life—growth, reproduction, metabolism, and response to environment.
The term encompasses everything from bacteria to blue whales: Every living thing on Earth shares common ancestors.
It's often used to emphasize the breadth of what deserves moral consideration or scientific study.
Living, sentient entity
- lifeformAny living organism
- speciesFinest taxonomic rank
- beingExisting as something
- entityIndependent existing thing
flora · fauna · microbe · cell · biology · taxonomy · genetics · anatomy
Multicellular motile organism
- plantBotanical organism
- fungusSpore-bearing organism
- bacteriumSingle-celled prokaryotic life
- protistUnicellular eukaryotic organism
vertebrate · invertebrate · mammal · insect · reptile · amphibian · fish · bird
Organism's natural environment
- ecosystemInterconnected organisms and surroundings
- biomeMajor ecological community
- biodiversityRange of life forms
- environmentExternal conditions affecting life
niche · population · community · biosphere · food chain · food web · symbiosis · predator
Having current existence
- breathingPulmonary gas exchange
- animateGive life to
- vitalEssential or sustaining existence
- life forceAnimating vital energy
metabolism · vital signs · viability · sentient · conscious · responsive · awareness · heartbeat
Progress toward maturity
- maturationProcess of becoming complete
- reproductionCopying or procreation
- germinationSeed's initial growth phase
- metamorphosisProfound biological restructuring
life cycle · birth · aging · senescence · regeneration · healing · budding · sprouting
creature
Living, sentient entity
entity · flora · fauna · microbe · cell · biology · taxonomy · genetics · anatomy · morphology
animal
Multicellular motile organism
protist · vertebrate · invertebrate · mammal · insect · reptile · amphibian · fish · bird · tree
habitat
Organism's natural environment
- ecosystemInterconnected organisms and surroundings
- biomeMajor ecological community
- biodiversityRange of life forms
environment · niche · population · community · biosphere · food chain · food web · symbiosis · predator · prey
alive
Having current existence
life force · metabolism · vital signs · viability · sentient · conscious · responsive · awareness · heartbeat · pulse
development
Progress toward maturity
- maturationProcess of becoming complete
- reproductionCopying or procreation
- germinationSeed's initial growth phase
metamorphosis · life cycle · birth · aging · senescence · regeneration · healing · budding · sprouting · blooming
living thingabstraction
Distilling to essential qualities
concept · idea · intangible · number · thought
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