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The definition of a genus is a class of items such as a group of animals or plants with similar traits, qualities or features.

(noun)

An example of a genus is all the species of mushrooms that are part of the Amanita family.

See genus in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun pl. genera or genuses

a class; kind; sort
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)
Logic a class of things made up of subordinate classes or species

Origin: 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

See genus in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. gen·er·a (jĕnˈər-ə)

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.
Logic A class of objects divided into subordinate species having certain common attributes.
A class, group, or kind with common attributes.

Origin:

Origin: Latin, kind; see genə- in Indo-European roots

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