"Biotechnology" useage is examined, and equated with a revised conception of fermentation. Basic, core meaning of biotechnology terminology is considered in relation to such areas as genetic engineering, bioengineering, food-beverage microbiology, biomass conversion and microbiological synthesis. A variety of indexing conventions are compared and a polarity of core vs wider applications is posed as a bibliographic consideration. A separate selected bibliography of narrower core treatise and serial titles is presented.