Dictionary Home »
Webster's New World College Dictionary » tautonymic
tautonymic
Variant of tautonym
tautonym
definition
tau·to·nym (tôt′ə nim)
noun
- a scientific name consisting of two terms, in which the generic name and specific name are the same (Ex.: Vulpes vulpes, the red fox): this kind of name is no longer used in botany, but is common in zoology
- a scientific name consisting of three terms, in which the name of the typical subdivision of the species repeats the specific name (Ex.: Lama glama glama, a domesticated llama)
Etymology: < taut(o)- + Gr onyma, name
Related Forms:
- tautonymic tau′·to·nym′ic adjective
- tautonymy tau·ton′y·my (tô tän′ə mē) noun
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Comments
Improve this definition.
Browse dictionary definitions near tautonymic
Share on Facebook