[deem] 
| 1. | one of the administrative divisions of ancient Attica and of modern Greece. |
| 2. | Biology. a local population of organisms of the same kind, esp. one in which the genetic mix is similar throughout the group. |
[dem-ik, dee-mik] , adjective | deme (dēm) n.
[Greek dēmos, people, land; see dā- in Indo-European roots.] |
| deme (dēm) Pronunciation Key
A small, locally interbreeding group of organisms within a larger population. Demes are isolated reproductively from other members of their species, although the isolation may only be partial and is not necessarily permanent. Because they share a somewhat restricted gene pool, members of a deme generally differ morphologically to some degree from members of other demes. See also population. |