noun pl. taxonomies -·mies

1. the science of classification; laws and principles covering the classifying of objects
2. Biol. a system of arranging animals and plants into natural, related groups based on some factor common to each, as structure, embryology, or biochemistry: the basic taxa now in use are, in descending order from most inclusive, kingdom, phylum (in botany, division), class, order, family, genus, and species

Etymology: Fr taxonomie < Gr taxis (see taxis) + nomos, law (see -nomy)