genus

[ jee-nuh s ]
/ ˈdʒi nəs /

noun, plural gen·e·ra [jen-er-uh] /ˈdʒɛn ər ə/, ge·nus·es.

Biology. the usual major subdivision of a family or subfamily in the classification of organisms, usually consisting of more than one species.
Logic. a class or group of individuals, or of species of individuals.
a kind; sort; class.

Origin of genus

1545–55; < Latin: race, stock, kind, gender; cognate with Greek génos. See gens, gender1, kin

OTHER WORDS FROM genus

pseu·do·ge·nus, noun, plural pseu·do·gen·e·ra, pseu·do·ge·nus·es.

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH genus

genius genus genus species

Definition for genus (2 of 2)

et hoc genus omne
[ et hohk ge-noo s ohm-ne; English et hok jee-nuh s om-nee ]
/ ɛt ˈhoʊk ˈgɛ nʊs ˈoʊm nɛ; English ɛt ˈhɒk ˈdʒi nəs ˈɒm ni /

Latin.

and all this (or that) sort of thing.
Also et id genus omne [et id ge-noo s ohm-ne; English et id jee-nuh s om-nee] /ɛt ˈɪd ˈgɛ nʊs ˈoʊm nɛ; English ɛt ˈɪd ˈdʒi nəs ˈɒm ni/.

Example sentences from the Web for genus

British Dictionary definitions for genus

genus
/ (ˈdʒiːnəs) /

noun plural genera (ˈdʒɛnərə) or genuses

biology any of the taxonomic groups into which a family is divided and which contains one or more species. For example, Vulpes (foxes) is a genus of the dog family (Canidae)
logic a class of objects or individuals that can be divided into two or more groups or species
a class, group, etc, with common characteristics
maths a number characterizing a closed surface in topology equal to the number of handles added to a sphere to form the surface. A sphere has genus 0, a torus, genus 1, etc

Word Origin for genus

C16: from Latin: race

Medical definitions for genus

genus
[ jēnəs ]

n. pl. gen•er•a (jĕnər-ə)

A taxonomic category ranking below a family and above a species and generally consisting of a group of species exhibiting similar characteristics.

Scientific definitions for genus

genus
[ jēnəs ]

Plural genera (jĕnər-ə)

A group of organisms ranking above a species and below a family. The names of genera, like those of species, are written in italics. For example, Periplaneta is the genus of the American cockroach, and comes from the Greek for “wandering about.” See Table at taxonomy.

Cultural definitions for genus

genus
[ (jee-nuhs) ]

In biology, the classification lower than a family and higher than a species. Wolves belong to the same genus as dogs. Foxes belong to a different genus from that of dogs and wolves, but to the same family. (See Linnean classification.)