gnotobiotic

adjective

gno·​to·​bi·​ot·​ic ˌnō-tō-bī-ˈä-tik  -bē- 

: of, relating to, living in, or being a controlled environment containing one or a few kinds of organisms

also : axenic

gnotobiotically

ˌnō-tō-bī-ˈä-ti-k(ə-)lē 

-bē-

adverb

Word History

Etymology

Greek gnōtos known (from gignōskein to know) + biotē life, way of life — more at know, biota

First Known Use

1949, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

gnotobiotic

adjective

gno·​to·​bi·​ot·​ic ˌnō-tə-(ˌ)bī-ˈät-ik  -bē- 

: of, relating to, living in, or being a controlled environment containing one or a few kinds of organisms

also : free from other living organisms : axenic

gnotobiotic mice

gnotobiote

-ˈbī-ˌōt 

noun

gnotobiotically

-(ˌ)bī-ˈät-ik(-ə)-lē also -bē- 

adverb