non-living
Lacking vital processes
Non-living describes things that are not alive—lacking the biological processes of growth, reproduction, and metabolism.
Rocks, water, and machines are non-living.
The term appears most often in scientific or educational contexts distinguishing between living organisms and inanimate matter: Students sorted objects into living and non-living categories.
Also spelled nonliving.
Solid earthen material
- mineralNaturally formed crystalline solid
- waterClear essential liquid
- soilGround matter for planting
- sandFine rock particles
sediment · atmosphere · climate · sunlight · temperature · terrain · landscape · geology
Tangible entity or aim
- thingUnspecified entity or matter
- artifactHuman-made historical object
- itemSingle unit or article
- furnitureMovable room objects
utensil · tool · device · apparatus · equipment · machinery · hardware · gadget
Microbe-killing substance
- disinfectedFreed from harmful microorganisms
- sanitizedCleansed of contaminants
- germ-freeLacking any microorganisms
- hygienicClean and disease-preventing
decontaminated · pasteurized · autoclaved · barren · lifeless · dead · uninhabited · desolate
rock
Solid earthen material
sand · sediment · atmosphere · climate · sunlight · temperature · terrain · landscape · geology · weathering
object
Tangible entity or aim
furniture · utensil · tool · device · apparatus · equipment · machinery · hardware · gadget · instrument
antiseptic
Microbe-killing substance
- disinfectedFreed from harmful microorganisms
- sanitizedCleansed of contaminants
- germ-freeLacking any microorganisms
hygienic · decontaminated · pasteurized · autoclaved · barren · lifeless · dead · uninhabited · desolate · stark
latent
Present but inactive
- quiescentInactive but capable
- inactiveNot currently functioning
- suspendedHalted or hanging temporarily
inert · idle · static · fallow · undeveloped · potential · extinct · petrified · preserved · mummified
plastic
Capable of being molded
- polyesterSynthetic petroleum-based fabric
- nylonSynthetic textile polymer
- acrylicSynthetic resin or fiber
silicone · vinyl · fiberglass · neoprene · spandex · rayon · resin · polymer · rubber · laminate
- Jainismahimsa, moksha, right conduct, non-violence, non-attachment