holotype

[ hol-uh-tahyp, hoh-luh- ]

nounBiology.
  1. the type specimen used in the original description of a species.

Origin of holotype

1
First recorded in 1895–1900; holo- + -type

Other words from holotype

  • hol·o·typ·ic [hol-uh-tip-ik, hoh-luh-], /ˌhɒl əˈtɪp ɪk, ˌhoʊ lə-/, adjective

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How to use holotype in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for holotype

holotype

/ (ˈhɒləˌtaɪp) /


noun
  1. biology another name for type specimen

Derived forms of holotype

  • holotypic (ˌhɒləˈtɪpɪk), adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for holotype

holotype

[ hŏlə-tīp′, hōlə- ]


  1. The single specimen or illustration designated as the type for naming a species or subspecies or used as the basis for naming a species or subspecies when no type has been selected. Also called type species

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