phylum

The definition of a phylum is a major category of living organisms, or a group of genetically related language families.

(noun)

An example of a phylum is Mollusca which means an invertebrate animal such as an octopus.
An example of a phylum is the group of Indo-European languages spoken in Europe, Asia, North America, South America and Oceania.

See phylum in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun pl. phyla

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)
1. a language stock
2. loosely a language family

Origin: ModL, coined by Baron Georges (Léopold Chrétien Frédéric Dagobert) Cuvier < Gr phylon, tribe: see phylo-

See phylum in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. phy·la (-lə)

Biology A primary division of a kingdom, as of the animal kingdom, ranking next above a class in size. See Table at taxonomy.
Linguistics A large division of possibly genetically related families of languages or linguistic stocks.

Origin:

Origin: New Latin phȳlum

Origin: , from Greek phūlon, class; see bheuə- in Indo-European roots

Learn more about phylum

phylum synonyms

phylum Culture

phylum medical definition

phylum science

phylum in a sentence

link/cite print suggestion box