English

Noun

biomass ‎(usually uncountable, plural biomasses)

1. The total mass of a living thing or part thereof, such as a cell.
   • 2005, David A Guertin and David M Sabatini, chapter "Cell Size Control" in Encyclopedia of Life Sciences, Wiley:

     Since protein constitutes the majority of the biomass of a cell, building new protein is a major way that cells increase their size.

2. The total mass of all living things within a specific area, habitat etc.
   • 2015, Theo Tait, ‘Don't wear yum-yum yellow’, London Review of Books, vol. 34 no. 15:

     In the untouched Shangri-la-like Kingman Reef in the Line Islands in the central Pacific, sharks make up 75 per cent of the fish biomass.

3. Vegetation used as a fuel, or source of energy, especially if cultivated for that purpose.

Translations

Related terms

• mineralomass