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genera
play\ˈje-nə-rə\alsogenuses
1: a class, kind, or group marked by common characteristics or by one common characteristic;specifically: a category of biological classification ranking between the family and the species, comprising structurally or phylogenetically (seephylogenetic 2) related species or an isolated species exhibiting unusual differentiation, and being designated by a Latin or latinized capitalized singular noun
2: a class of objects divided into several subordinate species
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Examples ofgenus in a Sentence
the crime novel, written from the criminal's perspective, is sometimes seen as a particular species of the detective storygenus
Recent Examples ofgenus from the Web
- Enterococcus is a largegenus of bacteria found in the human intestine and in human sewage pollution.
- Based on isolated teeth and a bone fragment, the newgenus and species was first described by Italian paleontologists in 2006.
- This is a hugely useful and varied species of thegenus Ocimum, varying in flavors and aromas.
- Within thegenus are deep reds, bright pinks, whites and bicolors.
- Consider Elizabethkingia anophelis—a largely unremarkable microbe named after the pioneering microbiologist Elizabeth O. King, who discovered thegenus, and the Anopheles mosquito, in whose gut it was first found in the Gambia.
- Dr. Siddall pointed out that some newts in thegenus Taricha in the forests of the Pacific Northwest are just as poisonous as the poison dart frogs of tropical South and Central America.
- Zilant, a winged serpent in Tatar mythology, inspired the newgenus name.
- The researchers analyzed genetic data from a number of Enterococcus species to determine when thisgenus originated.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'genus.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors.Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology ofgenus
Latingener-, genus birth, race, kind — more atkin
genus Synonyms
Synonyms
bracket,category,classification,division,family,class,grade,group,kind,league,order,rank (s),rubric,set,species,tier,typeRelated Words
description,feather,ilk,kidney,like,manner,nature,sort;branch,section,speciality,specialty,subclass,subdivision,subgroup,subspecies,variety;breed,race;generation;heading,label,titleOther Biology Terms
GENUS Defined for English Language Learners
genus
playDefinition ofgenus for English Language Learners
biology: a group of related animals or plants that includes several or many different species
GENUS Defined for Kids
genus
playDefinition ofgenus for Students
genera
\ˈje-nə-rə\: a group of related living things (as plants or animals) that ranks below the family in scientific classification and is made up of one or more species
Medical Dictionary
Medical Definition ofgenus
genera
\ˈjen-ə-rə\play: a class, kind, or group marked by common characteristics or by one common characteristic;specifically: a category of biological classification ranking between the family and the species, comprising structurally or phylogenetically related species or an isolated species exhibiting unusual differentiation, and designated by a Latin or latinized capitalized singular noun
Learn More aboutgenus
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