phylum
phylum
Definition
phy·lum (fī′ləm)
noun pl. phyla -·la (-lə)
- a major category in the classification of living organisms, esp. animals, ranking above a class and below a kingdom: it can include one class or many similar classes: the Latinized phylum names are capitalized but not italicized (Ex.: Arthropoda, arthropods)
- a language stock
- loosely a language family
Etymology: ModL, coined by Baron Georges (Léopold Chrétien Frédéric Dagobert) Cuvier < Gr phylon, tribe: see phylo-
phylum
Synonyms
phylum
Usage Examples
Converse of object
- constitute: In abundance of species the mollusks constitute the largest invertebrate phylum apart from the Arthropods with over 50,000 described species.
Adjective modifier
- new: This new species was such an unusual organism, a new phylum was proposed.
Modifies a noun
Browse dictionary entries near phylum
- phylogeny
- phylogenies
- phylogenic
- phylogenetically
- phylogenetic
- phylogenesis
- phylo-
- phylloxeras
- phylloxerae
- phylloxera
- -phyre
- phys
- phys ed
- physi-
- physiatrics
- physiatrist
- physiatry
- physic
- physical
- physical anthropology
