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species Definition

spe·cies (-s̸hēz, -sēz)

noun pl. -·cies

  1. a distinct kind; sort; variety; class a species of bravery
  2. Obsolete outward form, appearance, or mental image
  3. Obsolete specie
  4. Biol. a naturally existing population of similar organisms that usually interbreed only among themselves, and are given a unique, latinized binomial name to distinguish them from all other creatures
  5. Logic a class of individuals or objects having certain distinguishing attributes in common, given a common name, and comprised with other similar classes in a more comprehensive grouping called a genus
  6. Physics
    1. a specific kind of atomic nucleus
    2. nuclide
  7. R.C.Ch.
    1. the totality of natural physical characteristics (appearance, taste, etc.) of bread or wine, these characteristics remaining the same in the consecrated bread or wine of the Eucharist
    2. the consecrated bread or wine of the Eucharist

Etymology: L, a seeing, appearance, shape, kind, or quality < base of specere, to see: see spy

species Idioms

the species

the human race

species Synonyms

species

n.

species Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • genus: A species of this genus, when tasted, gave rise to a burning sensation in the mouth ( Cleland 1931 ).
  • jellyfish: However, when in a small space this particular species of jellyfish goes to the bottom of the tank and just sits.
  • ant: A certain species of ant brings the gold to the surface of the earth and enjoys it.

Converse of object

  • conserve: Remember the hedgehog on the 5th of November and help conserve this ancient species.

Adjective modifier

  • endangered: Without young players the game will become an endangered species.
  • protected: Jan From John S, UK Badgers are a protected species.
  • endemic: A preliminary list of the avifauna gives 224 species including 42 endemics, 75 % of the endemic species of the Central Highlands.
  • rare: They have wonderful markings and are a rare species.
  • invasive: During 2003 local people were involved in a project at Forfar Loch to help reduce another invasive species, the Himalayan balsam.
  • dominant: The summit of the hill above is covered in birch, with oak the dominant species on the sides.

Modifies a noun

  • richness: CONSERVATION VALUE The Ituri is a Pleistocene refuge of exceptional species richness with a greater variety of mammals than any park in Africa.
  • extinction: Customers don't want to buy products linked to rainforest destruction or species extinction.
  • composition: However these changes in species composition would have very little impact on potential pasture production.
  • diversity: Species diversity is generally low, with mostly domestic mammal remains.
  • barrier: Crossing of the species barriers in the wild is normally very rare.
  • identification: This enabled Frank Bisby to give us a bird's eye view of species identification in the third millenium.

Noun used with modifier

  • quarry: Injuries occur to the dogs as well as the quarry species.
  • prey: Hunting with dogs does not result in pain or suffering for the prey species.
  • breeding: The third breeding seabird species is Newell's Shearwater.
species Quotes

Avisitor from Mars contemplating a man in a frock coat and top hat and a woman in a crinoline might well have supposed that they belonged to different species.

—Laver,James

De natura Rationis est, res sub quadam aeternitatis specie percipere. It is the nature of reason to perceive things under a certain species of eternity.

—Spinoza, Baruch also known as Benedict de Spinoza

How beastly the bourgeois is Especially the male of the species.

—Lawrence, D(avid) H(erbert)

The female of the species is more deadly than the male.

—Kipling, (Joseph) Rudyard

The human species, according to the best theory I can form of it, is composed of two distinct races, the men who borrow, and the men who lend.

—Lamb, Charles

The human species is, to some extent, the result of mistakes which arrested our development and prevented us from assuming the somewhat unglamorous form of our primitive ancestors.

—Miller,JonathanWolfe

Nec species sua cuique manet, rerumque novatrix ex aliis alias reddit natura figuras. nec perit in toto quidquam, mihi credite, mundo, sed variat faciemque novat, nascique vocatur incipere esse aliud, quam quod fuit ante, morique, desinere illud idem. cum sint huc forsitan illa, haec translata illuc, summa tamen omnia constant. No species remains constant: that great renovator of matter Nature, endlessly fashions new forms from old: there's nothing in the whole universe that perishes, believe me; rather it renews and varies its substance. What we describe as birth isno morethan incipient change froma prior state, while dying is merely to quit it. Though the parts may be transported hither and thither, the sum of all matter is constant.

—Ovid full name Publius OvidiusNaso   4317

The classical economists were not wholly free from error, for they were only mortals, even if of a superior species.

—Viner,Jacob

Thus I live in the world rather as a Spectator of mankind, than as one of the species, by which means I have made myself a speculative statesman, soldier, merchant, and artisan, without ever meddling with any practical part of life.

—Addison,Joseph

   Totakeanalmost religiousview, thisearthisnothing very special.There have probably been millions of earths just like ours each producing a particular intelligent species. That isnottosay thattheyall developed well, thattheyall achieved some sort of perfection. And if the planner made lots of them and some of them chose to destroy themselves,thenwe canonlysupposethattheplanner is a hard and practical man.

—Hoyle, Sir Fred

The Frenchhad a moremartial air thanthe English.There seemed to be a species of military instinct in all classes. No young man appeared to have finished his education till after a bloody campaign† They were at this singular period, without the least exaggeration, a century behind us in notions of legal and moral responsibility.

—Haydon, Benjamin Robert

Thereisa species of personcalleda'ModernChurchman' who draws the full salary of a beneficed clergyman and need not commit himself to any religious belief.

—Waugh, Evelyn Arthur StJohn

We had better remain in union with England, even at the risk of becoming a subordinate species of Northumberland, as far as national consequence is concerned, than remedy ourselves by even hinting the possibility of a rupture. But there is no harm in wishing Scotland tohavejust somuchill-nature, according toher own proverb, as may keep her good-nature from being abused.

—Scott, Sir Walter