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subfamily definition

sub·fam·ily (sub′fam′ə lē, -fam′lē)

noun pl. subfamilies -·lies

  1. any main natural subdivision of a family of plants or animals
  2. a major division of a language family, above a branch the Balto-Slavic subfamily of Indo-European languages

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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