* bios (βίος) meaning "life"

* logos (λόγος) meaning "study" or "word"

Therefore, "biology" literally means "the study of life".

It was first used in the 18th century, but the concept of studying living organisms has been around for much longer. Early philosophers and naturalists studied plants and animals, but it was the development of the microscope and other scientific tools that allowed for a more detailed and systematic understanding of life.