ge·nus (j  n s)n. pl. gen·er·a (j  nr-) 1. Biology A taxonomic category ranking below a family and above a species and generally consisting of a group of species exhibiting similar characteristics. In taxonomic nomenclature the genus name is used, either alone or followed by a Latin adjective or epithet, to form the name of a species. See Table at taxonomy. 2. Logic A class of objects divided into subordinate species having certain common attributes. 3. A class, group, or kind with common attributes. [Latin, kind; see gen - in Indo-European roots.] |
genus [ˈdʒiːnəs]
n pl genera [ˈdʒɛnərə], genuses
1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Biology) Biology any of the taxonomic groups into which a family is divided and which contains one or more species. For example, Vulpes (foxes) is a genus of the dog family (Canidae)
2. (Philosophy / Logic) Logic a class of objects or individuals that can be divided into two or more groups or species
3. a class, group, etc., with common characteristics
4. (Mathematics) Maths a number characterizing a closed surface in topology equal to the number of handles added to a sphere to form the surface. A sphere has genus 0, a torus, genus 1, etc.
[from Latin: race]
| genus (jns) Plural genera (j nr-) A group of organisms ranking above a species and below a family. The names of genera, like those of species, are written in italics. For example, Periplaneta is the genus of the American cockroach, and comes from the Greek for "wandering about." See Table at taxonomy. |
Genus a class, order, or type of thing, esp. of plants or animals.
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. | genus - a general kind of something; "ignore the genus communism" |
| 2. | genus - (biology) taxonomic group containing one or more species form genus - an artificial taxonomic category established on the basis of morphological resemblance for organisms of obscure true relationships especially fossil forms bacteria genus - a genus of bacteria protoctist genus - any genus of Protoctista fish genus - any of various genus of fish chordate genus - any genus in the phylum Chordata bird genus - a genus of birds amphibian genus - any genus of amphibians reptile genus - a genus of reptiles arthropod genus - a genus of arthropods mammal genus - a genus of mammals sponge genus - a genus of Porifera coelenterate genus - a genus of coelenterates ctenophore genus - a genus of ctenophores worm genus - a genus of worms mollusk genus - a genus of mollusks echinoderm genus - a genus of echinoderms biological science, biology - the science that studies living organisms family - (biology) a taxonomic group containing one or more genera; "sharks belong to the fish family" subgenus - (biology) taxonomic group between a genus and a species type genus - (biology) genus from which the name of a family or subfamily is formed; it is not necessarily the most representative genus but often the largest or best known or earliest described form genus - (biology) an artificial taxonomic category for organisms of which the true relationships are obscure species - (biology) taxonomic group whose members can interbreed moss genus - a genus of mosses gymnosperm genus - a genus of gymnosperms liliopsid genus, monocot genus - genus of flowering plants having a single cotyledon (embryonic leaf) in the seed dicot genus, magnoliopsid genus - genus of flowering plants having two cotyledons (embryonic leaves) in the seed which usually appear at germination fungus genus - includes lichen genera plant genus - a genus of plants fern genus - genera of ferns and fern allies |
genus
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