nounplural noun genera/ˈjenərə/ /ˈdʒɛnərə/ , plural noun genuses

• 1Biology
  A principal taxonomic category that ranks above species and below family, and is denoted by a capitalized Latin name, e.g. Leo.

  ‘The identification of two named genera in a single organism presents a taxonomic dilemma.’

  More example sentences

  • ‘The cephalochordates include only about twenty species of two genera of organisms commonly called amphioxus.’
  • ‘Both the genus and species name of this aggressive flycatcher are from the Latin word for tyrant.’
  • ‘The three named genera of the family are apparently endemic to the southwestern North American craton.’
  • ‘In addition, honeyeaters are known to forage on a range of plant families, genera and species at any one time, and do not rely on a single plant species for food.’

  Synonyms

  group, subdivision, subfamily

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  1. 1.1(in philosophical and general use) a class of things that have common characteristics and that can be divided into subordinate kinds.
     ‘The subject genus of physics, for example, is the class of cases in which bodies change their locations in space.’
     More example sentences

     • ‘Aristotle also points out that sometimes the hypothesis of the genus is omitted as too obvious.’
     • ‘The main genera of relativism can be distinguished according to the object they seek to relativize.’
     • ‘In any case, one could see the common genus being post-retirement payment for work for an employer or like body.’
     • ‘The result is a genus of restaurant that is a sort of exotic greasy spoon.’
     Synonyms

     type, sort, kind, genre, style, variety, category, class

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