biomimetics, n.
Brit. /ˌbʌɪəʊmɪˈmɛtɪks/, /ˌbʌɪəʊmʌɪˈmɛtɪks/, U.S. /ˈˌbaɪoʊməˈmɛdɪks/
[‹ biomimetic adj.: see -ic suffix Affix 2.]
With sing. concord. The development and use of biomimetic materials, methods, etc.; the branch of science concerned with this.
| 1970 Brain Res. 19 1 These advanced scientific concepts of brain function early influenced the engineering development of the digital computer; an example of ‘bionics’ or to use the term McCulloch preferred ‘biomimetics’. 1985 Fortune 27 May 60/3 The new science of biomimetics..seeks to incorporate what has been learned from enzymes into man-made catalysts. 2001 R. W. Cahn Coming of Materials Sci. xi. 427 Biomimetics seems to have begun as a study of strong and tough materials (skeletons, defensive starfish spines, mollusc shells) in order to mimic their microstructure in man-made materials. |