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genus Definition

ge·nus (nəs)

noun pl. gen·erajenər ə or ge·nuses

  1. a class; kind; sort
  2. Biol. a major category in the classification of animals, plants, etc., ranking above a species and below a family: it can include one species or many similar species: the Latinized genus name is capitalized and italicized, and precedes the species name, which is italicized but not capitalized (Ex.: Homo sapiens, modern man)
  3. Logic a class of things made up of subordinate classes or species

Etymology: L, birth, origin, race, species, kind < IE base *ĝen-, to beget, produce > L gignere, to beget, gens, clan, Gr genos, race, gignesthai, to be born, Ger kind, child, OE (ge)cynd, kind, cennan, to beget; also, with loss of initial g-, L nasci, to be born, natura, nature

genus Synonyms

genus

n.

sort, variety, species, family; see class 1.

genus Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • algae: Of the more than 1500 * genera of algae worldwide, relatively few make suitable lichen partners.
  • bacterium: Only a few genera of bacteria such as Bacillus and Clostridium are capable of forming endospores.
  • plant: But in a new survey of species from 335 genera of higher plants, 48 were found to have the parasite.
  • specie: This is a genus of 11 species of trees and shrubs, natives of East Africa and of North and South America.

Converse of object

  • comprise: The family comprises a single genus, Gymnotus, which holds some of the most abundant and familiar knife fish from the Amazon.
  • represent: There are an estimated 340,000 genera represented in the text as well as approximately 3000 supplemental corrections.
  • describe: The term Iris in not only used to describe the genus, it is also the common name for the comprised species.
  • relate: It is the most closely related genus containing C 4 species to Arabidopsis.

Adjective modifier

  • monotypic: A monotypic genus confined to the western slopes of the North Rockies in California and Oregon, USA.
  • endemic: There are four endemic palm species in three endemic genera.
  • supreme: Central to his rejection of univocity of being is his denial that it is a supreme genus.
  • tropical: Our taxonomic focus on species-rich, widely distributed tropical genera, and inventory programs in diverse ecosystems provides us with ideal study materials.
  • distinct: The Proconsul is an early ape, which was once considered to be a distinct genus.
  • diverse: Lichens, especially species of the diverse genus Cladonia, are a very important group on heathland.

Modifies a noun

  • notocactus: General classification The genus Notocactus has been subdivided into smaller groups to aid the understanding of relationships between these groups.
  • bacillus: Living in the soil are huge numbers of bacteria belonging to the genus Bacillus.
  • name: Having said that, many genus names are just, well, names.

Noun used with modifier

  • orchid: Describe the cultural requirements of five different warm climate orchid genera.
  • plant: Magnolia Magnolias are among the most ancient of the flowering plant genera.
  • tree: The same forests are the source of many tree genera which are used, or show potential for use, worldwide.

Browse dictionary entries near genus

  1. genuine
  2. genuflect
  3. genu
  4. gentry
  5. gentrify
  6. gentrification
  7. Gentoo
  8. gently
  9. gentlewoman
  10. gentleness
  1. -geny
  2. GEO
  3. geo-
  4. geobotany
  5. geocentric
  6. geochemistry
  7. geochronology
  8. geochronometry
  9. geocorona
  10. geode