phylum

phy·lum  (flm)

n. pl. phy·la (-l)

1. Biology A primary division of a kingdom, as of the animal kingdom, ranking next above a class in size. See Table at taxonomy.

2. Linguistics A large division of possibly genetically related families of languages or linguistic stocks.

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[New Latin phlum, from Greek phlon, class; see bheu- in Indo-European roots.]

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phylum

Noun

pl -la Biol one of the major groups into which the animal and plant kingdoms are divided, containing one or more classes [Greek phulon race]

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phylum  (flm)

Plural phyla

A group of organisms ranking above a class and below a kingdom. See Table at taxonomy.

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phylum

any of the basic divisions of the plant or animal kingdom. Cf. phylon.

See also: Botany

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any of the basic divisions of the plant or animal kingdom.

See also: Classification

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any of the major subdivisions of the plant or animal kingdom. Cf. phylon. See also linguistics.

See also: Animals

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	phylum - (linguistics) a large group of languages that are historically related linguistics - the scientific study of language social group - people sharing some social relation
	2.	phylum - (biology) the major taxonomic group of animals and plants; contains classes phylum Pyrrophyta, Pyrrophyta - a division of lower plants comprising unicellular and biflagellate algae that form starchy compounds phylum Protozoa, Protozoa - in some classifications considered a superphylum or a subkingdom; comprises flagellates; ciliates; sporozoans; amoebas; foraminifers Cryptophyta, phylum Cryptophyta - a phylum in the kingdom Protoctista Chordata, phylum Chordata - comprises true vertebrates and animals having a notochord Cephalochordata, subphylum Cephalochordata - lancelets subphylum Tunicata, subphylum Urochorda, subphylum Urochordata, Tunicata, Urochorda, Urochordata - tunicates Craniata, subphylum Craniata, subphylum Vertebrata, Vertebrata - fishes; amphibians; reptiles; birds; mammals Arthropoda, phylum Arthropoda - jointed-foot invertebrates: arachnids; crustaceans; insects; millipedes; centipedes Pentastomida, subphylum Pentastomida - tongue worms phylum Porifera, Porifera - coextensive with the subkingdom Parazoa: sponges Cnidaria, Coelenterata, phylum Cnidaria, phylum Coelenterata - hydras; polyps; jellyfishes; sea anemones; corals Ctenophora, phylum Ctenophora - comb jellies; sea acorns; a small phylum formerly considered a class of Coelenterata Acanthocephala, phylum Acanthocephala - phylum or class of elongated wormlike parasites that live in the intestines of vertebrates: spiny-headed worms Chaetognatha, phylum Chaetognatha - arrowworms: a group of small active transparent marine worms phylum Platyhelminthes, Platyhelminthes - flatworms Nemertea, Nemertina, phylum Nemertea, phylum Nemertina - proboscis worms phylum Pogonophora, Pogonophora - beard worms phylum Rotifera, Rotifera - a phylum including: rotifers Aschelminthes, Nematoda, phylum Aschelminthes, phylum Nematoda - unsegmented worms: roundworms; threadworms; eelworms Annelida, phylum Annelida - segmented worms: earthworms; lugworms; leeches Mollusca, phylum Mollusca - gastropods; bivalves; cephalopods; chitons Phoronida, Phoronidea, phylum Phoronida - small phylum of wormlike marine animals Bryozoa, phylum Bryozoa, polyzoa - marine or freshwater animals that form colonies of zooids Ectoprocta, phylum Ectoprocta - coextensive with or a subphylum of Bryozoa Endoprocta, Entoprocta, phylum Entoprocta - sometimes considered a subphylum of Bryozoa Cycliophora, phylum Cycliophora - tiny marine organisms each the size of a period found in great numbers on lobsters' lips; identified tentatively in 1995 as a new phylum or as possible link between Entoprocta and Ectoprocta Brachiopoda, phylum Brachiopoda - marine invertebrates that resemble mollusks phylum Sipuncula, Sipuncula - peanut worms Echinodermata, phylum Echinodermata - radially symmetrical marine invertebrates including e.g. starfish and sea urchins and sea cucumbers biological science, biology - the science that studies living organisms kingdom - the highest taxonomic group into which organisms are grouped; one of five biological categories: Monera or Protoctista or Plantae or Fungi or Animalia taxon, taxonomic category, taxonomic group - animal or plant group having natural relations subphylum - (biology) a taxonomic group ranking between a phylum and a class class - (biology) a taxonomic group containing one or more orders division - (botany) taxonomic unit of plants corresponding to a phylum