biomass

noun

bio·​mass ˈbī-ō-ˌmas 

1

: the amount of living matter (as in a unit area or volume of habitat)

2

: plant materials and animal waste used especially as a source of fuel

Examples of biomass in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Landsat, the longest-running satellite program dedicated to Earth observation, helps monitor environmental changes, urban growth, drought, wildfires, biomass changes and a host of other natural and man-made trends on a global scale. —Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024

One notable example of a real-world application of biochar as a carbon removal technology comes from Charm Industrial, which converts biomass waste into bio-oil and injects it deep underground for long-term storage. —Rob Van Straten, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024

Biofuels made from corn, wheat, soy, rapeseed oil, palm oil, woody biomass—even algae—have been positioned as key transitional fuels on the pathway to net zero carbon emissions and to energy sovereignty. —The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 8 Aug. 2024

Together, hydroelectric dams, wind turbines, solar arrays and biomass plants, which burn wood and other organic materials, produced about 69 percent of the state’s power. —Nadja Popovich, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1931, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

biomass

noun

bio·​mass

ˈbī-ō-ˌmas

1

: the amount of living matter (as in an area or volume of habitat)

2

: plant materials and animal waste used especially as a source of fuel

Medical Definition

biomass

noun

bio·​mass -ˌmas 

: the amount of living matter (as in a unit area or volume of habitat)