First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1species
noun spe·cies \ˈspē-(ˌ)shēz, -(ˌ)sēz\
biology : a group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants : a group of related animals or plants that is smaller than a genus
: a particular group of things or people that belong together or have some shared quality
plural species
Full Definition of SPECIES
1
a : kind, sort b : a class of individuals having common attributes and designated by a common name; specifically : a logical division of a genus or more comprehensive class <confessing sins in species and in number> c : the human race : human beings —often used with the <survival of the species in the nuclear age> d (1) : a category of biological classification ranking immediately below the genus or subgenus, comprising related organisms or populations potentially capable of interbreeding, and being designated by a binomial that consists of the name of a genus followed by a Latin or latinized uncapitalized noun or adjective agreeing grammatically with the genus name (2) : an individual or kind belonging to a biological species e : a particular kind of atomic nucleus, atom, molecule, or ion
2
: the consecrated eucharistic elements of the Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox Eucharist
3
a : a mental image; also : a sensible object b : an object of thought correlative with a natural object
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Origin of SPECIES
Middle English, from Latin, appearance, kind, species, from specere to look — more at spy
Related to SPECIES
Other Anthropology Terms
2species
adjective
Definition of SPECIES
: belonging to a biological species as distinguished from a horticultural variety <a species rose>
First Known Use of SPECIES
1899
Other Biology Terms
SPECIES Defined for Kids
species
noun spe·cies \ˈspē-shēz, -sēz\
plural species
Definition of SPECIES for Kids
1
: a group of similar living things that ranks below the genus in scientific classification and is made up of individuals able to produce offspring with one another <The one-humped camel is a different species from the two-humped camel.>
Medical Dictionary
species
noun spe·cies \ˈspē-(ˌ)shēz, -(ˌ)sēz\
plural species
Medical Definition of SPECIES
1
a : a category of biological classification ranking immediately below the genus or subgenus, comprising related organisms or populations potentially capable of interbreeding, and being designated by a binomial that consists of the name of the genus followed by a Latin or latinized uncapitalized noun or adjective agreeing grammatically with the genus name b : an individual or kind belonging to a biological species
2
: a particular kind of atomic nucleus, atom, molecule, or ion <production of DNA damage by active oxygen species>
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