define organism

An organism is a living entity that can function independently and exhibit the characteristics of life, which include growth, reproduction, response to stimuli, metabolism, and the ability to adapt to its environment. Organisms can be unicellular, such as bacteria and amoebae, or multicellular, such as plants, animals, and fungi. They are composed of one or more cells, which are the basic units of life. Organisms interact with their environment and with other organisms as part of ecological systems.