biography verb or noun

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Definition of biography noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

• Boswell’s biography of Johnson
• a biography by Antonia Fraser
• The book gives potted biographies of all the major painters.
• blockbuster
• unauthorized
• biography by
• biography of

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• The Dictionary of National Biography
• Dictionary of National Biography

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[ bahy- og -r uh -fee , bee- ]

the biography of Byron by Marchand.

• an account in biographical form of an organization, society, theater, animal, etc.
• such writings collectively.
• the writing of biography as an occupation or field of endeavor.

/ baɪˈɒɡrəfɪ; ˌbaɪəˈɡræfɪkəl /

• an account of a person's life by another
• such accounts collectively
• The story of someone's life. The Life of Samuel Johnson , by James Boswell , and Abraham Lincoln , by Carl Sandburg , are two noted biographies. The story of the writer's own life is an autobiography .

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Derived forms.

• biˈographer , noun
• biographical , adjective
• ˌbioˈgraphically , adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of biography 1

Example Sentences

Barrett didn’t say anything on Tuesday to contradict our understanding of her ideological leanings based on her past rulings, past statements and biography.

Republicans, meanwhile, focused mostly on her biography — including her role as a working mother of seven and her Catholic faith — and her credentials, while offering few specifics about her record as a law professor and judge.

She delivered an inspiring biography at one point, reflecting on the sacrifice her mother made to emigrate to the United States.

As Walter Isaacson pointed out in his biography of Benjamin Franklin, Franklin proposed the postal system as a vital network to bond together the 13 disparate colonies.

Serving that end, the book is not an in-depth biography as much as a summary of Galileo’s life and science, plus a thorough recounting of the events leading up to his famous trial.

The Amazon biography for an author named Papa Faal mentions both Gambia and lists a military record that matches the FBI report.

For those unfamiliar with Michals, an annotated biography and useful essays are included.

Did you envision your Pryor biography as extending your previous investigation—aesthetically and historically?

But Stephen Kotkin's new biography reveals a learned despot who acted cunningly to take advantage of the times.

Watching novelists insult one another is one of the primary pleasures of his biography.

He also published two volumes of American Biography, a work which his death abridged.

Mme. de Chaulieu gave her husband the three children designated in the duc's biography.

The biography of great men always has been, and always will be read with interest and profit.

I like biography far better than fiction myself: fiction is too free.

The Bookman: "A more entertaining narrative whether in biography or fiction has not appeared in recent years."

Related Words

• autobiography

Words and phrases

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biography noun

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What does the noun biography mean?

There are three meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun biography . See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

How common is the noun biography ?

How is the noun biography pronounced, british english, u.s. english, where does the noun biography come from.

Earliest known use

The earliest known use of the noun biography is in the mid 1600s.

OED's earliest evidence for biography is from 1661, in the writing of John Fell, bishop of Oxford.

biography is a borrowing from Latin.

Etymons: Latin biographia .

Nearby entries

• biognosy, n. 1880
• biograph, n. 1825–
• biograph, v. 1776–
• biographee, n. 1812–
• biographer, n. 1644–
• biographic, adj. 1752–
• biographical, adj. 1668–
• biographically, adv. ?1719–
• biographist, n. a1661–
• biographize, v. 1793–
• biography, n. 1661–
• biography, v. 1794–
• biographying, n. 1858–
• biohacker, n. 1988–
• biohacking, n. 1992–
• biohazard, n. 1965–
• biohazardous, adj. 1973–
• bioherm, n. 1928–
• biohermal, adj. 1937–
• bioidentical, adj. 1995–
• bioimaging, n. 1983–

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Meaning & use

Pronunciation, compounds & derived words, entry history for biography, n..

biography, n. was revised in November 2010.

biography, n. was last modified in July 2023.

oed.com is a living text, updated every three months. Modifications may include:

• further revisions to definitions, pronunciation, etymology, headwords, variant spellings, quotations, and dates;
• new senses, phrases, and quotations.

Revisions and additions of this kind were last incorporated into biography, n. in July 2023.

Earlier versions of this entry were published in:

OED First Edition (1887)

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OED Second Edition (1989)

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Definition of 'biography'

biography in British English

Biography in american english, examples of 'biography' in a sentence biography, cobuild collocations biography, trends of biography.

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• biographically
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Related terms of biography

• new biography
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• 1.1 Etymology
• 1.2 Pronunciation
• 1.3.1 Derived terms
• 1.3.2 Related terms
• 1.3.3 Translations
• 1.5 Anagrams

English [ edit ]

Etymology [ edit ].

From New Latin biographia , formed from Ancient Greek βίος ( bíos , “ life ” ) + γράφω ( gráphō , “ write ” ) .

Pronunciation [ edit ]

• ( Received Pronunciation ) IPA ( key ) : /baɪˈɒɡɹəfi/
• ( General American ) IPA ( key ) : /baɪˈɑɡɹəfi/
• Rhymes: -ɒɡɹəfi

Noun [ edit ]

biography ( countable and uncountable , plural biographies )

• A person's life story , especially one published. There are many biographies of Benjamin Franklin.
• The art of writing this kind of story.

Derived terms [ edit ]

• autobiography
• heterobiography
• psychobiography

Related terms [ edit ]

• biographical
• biographism
• hagiography
• pathography

Translations [ edit ]

Verb [ edit ].

biography ( third-person singular simple present biographies , present participle biographying , simple past and past participle biographied )

• ( transitive ) To write a biography of.

Anagrams [ edit ]

• English terms borrowed from New Latin
• English terms derived from New Latin
• English terms derived from Ancient Greek
• English 4-syllable words
• English terms with IPA pronunciation
• English terms with audio links
• Rhymes:English/ɒɡɹəfi
• Rhymes:English/ɒɡɹəfi/4 syllables
• English lemmas
• English nouns
• English uncountable nouns
• English countable nouns
• English terms with usage examples
• English verbs
• English transitive verbs
• English terms suffixed with -graphy
• en:Literary genres
• English entries with language name categories using raw markup
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Meaning of biography in English

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• This biography offers a few glimpses of his life before he became famous .
• Her biography revealed that she was not as rich as everyone thought .
• The biography was a bit of a rush job .
• The biography is an attempt to uncover the inner man.
• The biography is woven from the many accounts which exist of things she did.
• exercise book
• novelistically
• young adult

biography | Intermediate English

• biographical

Examples of biography

Translations of biography.

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anonymously

without the name of someone who has done a particular thing being known or made public

Dead ringers and peas in pods (Talking about similarities, Part 2)

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Definition of bio

 (Entry 1 of 2)

Definition of bio-  (Entry 2 of 2)

Examples of bio in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bio.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

1947, in the meaning defined above

Dictionary Entries Near bio

bioabsorbable

Cite this Entry

“Bio.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bio. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

Kids definition of bio-.

Combining form

from Greek bi-, bio- "life"

More from Merriam-Webster on bio

Nglish: Translation of bio for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of bio for Arabic Speakers

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Meaning of "biography" in the English dictionary

Pronunciation of biography, grammatical category of biography, what does biography mean in english.

Definition of biography in the English dictionary

The definition of biography in the dictionary is an account of a person's life by another. Other definition of biography is such accounts collectively.

WORDS THAT RHYME WITH BIOGRAPHY

Words that begin like biography, words that end like biography, synonyms and antonyms of biography in the english dictionary of synonyms, synonyms of «biography», words relating to «biography», translation of «biography» into 25 languages.

TRANSLATION OF BIOGRAPHY

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FREQUENCY OF USE OF THE TERM «BIOGRAPHY» OVER TIME

Examples of use in the english literature, quotes and news about biography, 10 quotes with «biography», 10 english books relating to «biography», 10 news items which include the term «biography».

biography (n.)

1680s, "the histories of individual lives, as a branch of literature," probably from Medieval Latin biographia , from later Greek biographia "description of life" (which was not in classical Greek, bios alone being the word there for it), from Greek bios "life" (from PIE root *gwei- "to live") + graphia "record, account" (see -graphy ).

The meaning "a history of some one person's life" is from 1791. The meaning "life course of any living being" is by 1854. No one-word verb form has become common; biographise / biographize (1800), biography (1844), biograph (1849) have been tried.

Entries linking to biography

"a memoir of a person written by himself," 1797, from auto- + biography . Related: Autobiographical ; autobiographer ; autobiographic .

"one who writes an account of the life and actions of a person," 1715, from biography + -er (1). Earlier was biographist (1660s). Biographee for the one written about is from 1841.

Of every great and eminent character, part breaks forth into public view, and part lies hid in domestic privacy. Those qualities which have been exerted in any known and lasting performances may, at any distance of time, be traced and estimated; but silent excellencies are soon forgotten; and those minute peculiarities which discriminate every man from all others, if the are not recorded by those whom personal knowledge enabled to observe them, are irrecoverably lost. [Johnson, "Life of Sir Thomas Browne," 1756]

biographical

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Trends of biography

More to explore, share biography.

updated on October 10, 2022

Trending words

• 2 . catholic
• 3 . testimony
• 5 . integrity
• 6 . respect
• 7 . miracle

Dictionary entries near biography

biogeography

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• 简体中文 (Chinese)
• Deutsch (German)
• Español (Spanish)
• Français (French)
• Italiano (Italian)
• 日本語 (Japanese)
• 한국어 (Korean)
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• 繁體中文 (Chinese)

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DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY

Recent compares: Improvements vs Advance , Clearness vs Lucidity , Puzzlement vs Bewilderment , Tart vs Tangy , Taken vs Arrogated

LIFE HISTORY vs BIOGRAPHY: NOUN

• An account of the series of events making up a person's life
• The history of changes undergone by an organism from inception or conception to death.
• The developmental history of an individual or a group in society.
• An investigation into the details and activities of a person during his/her lifetime; one's background.
• Information concerning a person's diseases and medical disorders suffered during his lifetime; especially useful if the disorders are genetic.
• The general progression of your working or professional life
• An account of a person's life written, composed, or produced by another.
• The writing, composition, or production of biographies.
• The history of the life of a particular person.
• Biographical writing in general, or as a department of literature.
• In natural history, the life-history of an animal or a plant.
• The written history of a person's life.
• Biographical writings in general.
• A person's life story, especially one published.
• Biographies considered as a group, especially when regarded as a genre.

LIFE HISTORY vs BIOGRAPHY: VERB

• To write a biography of.

LIFE HISTORY vs BIOGRAPHY: RELATED WORDS

• Morphogeny, Metagenetic, Phenology, Epizootiology, Morphophysiology, Gynandromorph, Evolutionary, Euphenics, Psychogenetics, Anagenesis, Coadapted, Life story, Biography, Career, Life
• Foreword, Biopic, Profile, Bio, Sketch, Vitae, Story, Bibliographical, Biographical, Memoir, Biographer, Autobiography, Life history, Life story, Life

LIFE HISTORY vs BIOGRAPHY: DESCRIBE WORDS

• Reproductive, Morphogeny, Metagenetic, Epizootiology, Morphophysiology, Gynandromorph, Evolutionary, Euphenics, Psychogenetics, Anagenesis, Coadapted, Life story, Biography, Career, Life

LIFE HISTORY vs BIOGRAPHY: SENTENCE EXAMPLES

• Erikson E: Life History and the Historical Moment.
• Life history of Ascaris lumbricoides and related forms.
• Examines key aspects of the human life stages using findings and concepts from developmental biology, physiology, nutrition, evolutionary ecology, and life history theory.
• Ecology Life history strategy The life cycle of coccolithophores is characterized by an alternation of diploid and haploid phases.
• The family history and life history of Henry Wells and Eliza Kettle Wells.
• Life-history interviews can help the genealogist write what Foucault called a "history of desiring man" (1985, p. 6).
• Century of Black Life, History and Culture Montgomery College Celebrates National African American History Month in February.
• The Real Life History Channel features an eclectic mix of documentaries and History themed factual series.
• His true nature, character, earthly life history, andtrue nature, character, earthly life history, and will is revealed in the New Testament.
• Also, traditional life history theory regards age-specific survival as the key driver of life history variation.
• It is, in other words, a biography written by the person who is the subject of that biography.
• Barry Morphew Biography, Age, Last Seen, Social Media, Occupation Betty Wright Biography, Age, Parents, Career, Husband and Children, Cause of Death About The Author.
• Author of books that range from the Great Depression, financial histories, a presidential biography, a forthcoming biography about Walter Bagehot, and appearances on.
• Comprehensive works dealing with professional, national, and international biography, including both retrospective and current biography, are acquired for the reference collection.
• Your biography will be placed in the record, which is an extremely, extremely impressive biography.
• Every day With you Was a Blessing, artist biography, translations and More biography translations!
• Individual biography is of course also to be found under BIOGRAPHY.
• The SAMPLE biography writing service BIOGRAPHY near me.
• JUVENILE BIOGRAPHY AND COLLECTIVE BIOGRAPHY BOOK COLLECTION ca.
• Free various types of educational resources for kids biography kids, biography for kids, biographies kids, biography books for kids, and biography of kids.

LIFE HISTORY vs BIOGRAPHY: QUESTIONS

• How many volumes are there in Rajkumar's life history?
• What is Rushton's life history approach to racial differences?
• How do protists differ from other organisms in life history?
• What is the life history method of qualitative research?
• What is the life history of Prophet Muhammad (saw)?
• How does depredation affect killer whales'life-history parameters?
• What is the life history of mitochondria in neurons?
• Is Balantidium coli pathogenicity and life history relevant?
• What are the characteristics of anuran life history?
• Does partner availability affect life-history traits?
• What is Konrad Lorenz biography ethology-imprinting?
• When did Lagerkvist write his autobiography/biography?
• When was Giauque's autobiography/biography published?
• What is a biography reading comprehension worksheet?
• Is the Van Buren biography better than the Niven biography?
• Is a board biography the same as an executive biography?
• Is John Boswell's biography the greatest biography ever written?
• Apa perbedaan antara Authorized Biography dan Unauthorized Biography?
• Is this Barrett Doss biography an official biography?
• Is the biography of Jesus a revolutionary biography?