phylum
[ fahy-luh m ]
/ ˈfaɪ ləm /
noun, plural phy·la [fahy-luh] /ˈfaɪ lə/.
Biology.
the primary subdivision of a taxonomic kingdom, grouping together all classes of organisms that have the same body plan.
Linguistics.
a category consisting of language stocks that, because of cognates in vocabulary, are considered likely to be related by common origin.
Compare stock(def 13).
Origin of phylum
1875–80; < New Latin < Greek
phŷlon tribe, stock; see
phylon
OTHER WORDS FROM phylum
phy·lar, adjectiveWords nearby phylum
phylogenetic,
phylogenetic classification,
phylogenetics,
phylogeny,
phylon,
phylum,
phyma,
phymatosis,
phys ed,
phys-,
phys.
Example sentences from the Web for phylum
British Dictionary definitions for phylum
phylum
/ (ˈfaɪləm) /
noun plural -la (-lə)
a major taxonomic division of living organisms that contain one or more classes. An example is the phylum Arthropoda (insects, crustaceans, arachnids, etc, and myriapods)
any analogous group, such as a group of related language families or linguistic stocks
Word Origin for phylum
C19: New Latin, from Greek
phulon race
Medical definitions for phylum
phylum
[ fī′ləm ]
n. pl. phy•la (-lə)
A taxonomic category that is a primary division of a kingdom and ranks above a class in size.
Scientific definitions for phylum
phylum
[ fī′ləm ]
Plural phyla
A group of organisms ranking above a class and below a kingdom. See Table at taxonomy.
Cultural definitions for phylum
phylum
[ (feye-luhm) ]
plur. phyla
One of the major divisions of the kingdoms of living things; the second-largest standard unit of biological classification. The arthropods, chordates, and mollusks are phyla. Phyla in the plant kingdom are frequently called divisions. (See Linnean classification.)