organico

organic

adjective or-GAH-nee-koh Common

Origin: From Greek organikós (relating to an organ or tool), via Latin organicus.

Also means

staff; personnel (as noun)

Usage Note

Organico as an adjective means 'organic' in the chemical or structural sense (chimica organica); for pesticide-free food Italians say biologico, not organico. As a noun, l'organico (masculine) means the workforce or staff of an organisation (riduzione dell'organico = 'staff reduction'). Note the antepenultimate stress: or-GAH-nee-koh.

Examples

"La chimica organica studia i composti del carbonio."

Natural Translation

Organic chemistry studies carbon compounds.

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