SKIP TO CONTENT

genus

Definitions of genus
  1. noun
    (biology) taxonomic group containing one or more species
    synonyms: geslacht
    see moresee less
    types:
    Zeus
    type genus of the family Zeidae
    zeepaard
    seahorses
    prunel
    type genus of the Prunellidae
    Proteus
    type genus of the Proteidae
    schilddak
    type genus of the Testudinidae
    Penelope
    a genus of guans (turkey-like arboreal birds valued as game and food birds)
    kraanvogel
    type genus of the Gruidae: typical cranes
    dolfijn
    type genus of the Delphinidae
    wolbij
    potter bees
    geitenoog, geiteoog
    goat grass
    ficus
    large genus of tropical trees or shrubs or climbers including fig trees
    Paris
    sometimes placed in subfamily Trilliaceae
    nepent
    pitcher plants
    ribes
    a flowering shrub bearing currants or gooseberries; native to northern hemisphere
    vergeet-mij-niet, vergeet-mij-nietje
    forget-me-nots; scorpion grass
    lycopodium
    type and sole genus of the Lycopodiaceae; erect or creeping evergreen plants often used for Christmas decorations
  2. noun
    a grammatical category in inflected languages governing the agreement between nouns and pronouns and adjectives; in some languages it is quite arbitrary but in Indo-European languages it is usually based on sex or animateness
    synonyms: geslacht, woordgeslacht
    see moresee less
    types:
    f., femininum
    a gender that refers chiefly (but not exclusively) to females or to objects classified as female
    masculinum
    a gender that refers chiefly (but not exclusively) to males or to objects classified as male
    het-woord, n., neutrum
    a gender that refers chiefly (but not exclusively) to inanimate objects (neither masculine nor feminine)
Cite this entry
Style:
MLA
  • MLA
  • APA
  • Chicago

Copy citation
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘genus'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
Word Family