n. The literary theories and practices of the French novelist Emile Zola (1840-1902); naturalism, esp. in a derogatory sense. -- Zo"la*ist, n. -- Zo`la*is"tic a. -- Zo"la*ize v. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
(n) the theory that the parts of any whole cannot exist and cannot be understood except in their relation to the whole, Syn. holistic theory, Ant. atomism, Example:holism holds that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts; holistic theory has been applied to ecology and language and mental states