abioses

Noun

abiosis (countable and uncountable, plural abioses)

1. (uncountable) The absence of life.
   • In fact, more than just the total elimination of bacteria by filtration, the aim should also be stabilization by abiosis (page 119), with the implication of reducing the contaminating cell load as much as possible.2001, Claudio Delfini, Joseph V. Formica, Wine Microbiology: Science and Technology, page 119

   Synonyms:

   sterility

2. The temporary cessation of biological processes.
   • The symptoms of intoxication may differ in both cases considerably, e.g. they may be attended by deep unconsciousness and abiosis, and also by violent convulsions.1900, Merck's Annual Report of Recent Advances in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Therapeutics

   Synonyms:

   suspended animation, cryptobiosis

3. Necrosis, especially that which occurs at the single cell level.
   • Finally, here is an example of hereditary defect at the outset in some tissue or group of tissues, which may be compared in its ultimate nature with the human jerry-buildings or so-called abioses such as Friedreich's syndrome, achondroplasia, or the muscular dystrophies.1914 February, E.B. Morley, “Epidermolysis Bullosa Hereditaria”, in The British Journal of Dermatology and Syphilis, volume 26, page 42

   Synonyms:

   abiotrophy