| having no sexual organs; independent of sexual processes; not involving the union of male and female germ cells |
| any modern theory of evolution holding that species evolve by natural selection acting on genetic variation |
kingdom (ˈkɪŋdəm) ![]() | |
| —n | |
| 1. | a territory, state, people, or community ruled or reigned over by a king or queen |
| 2. | any of the three groups into which natural objects may be divided: the animal, plant, and mineral kingdoms |
| 3. | biology See also domain any of the major categories into which living organisms of the domain Eukarya are classified. Modern systems recognize four kingdoms: Protoctista (algae, protozoans, etc), Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia |
| 4. | theol the eternal sovereignty of God |
| 5. | an area of activity, esp mental activity, considered as being the province of something specified: the kingdom of the mind |
| 'kingdomless | |
| —adj | |
| kingdom (kĭng'dəm) Pronunciation Key
The highest classification into which living organisms are grouped in Linnean taxonomy, ranking above a phylum. One widely accepted system of classification divides life into five kingdoms: prokaryotes, protists, fungi, plants, and animals. See Table at taxonomy. |
In biology, the largest of the divisions of living things. The best-known kingdoms are those of the plants and animals. Modern biologists recognize three additional kingdoms: Monera (or Prokaryotae) (for example, bacteria and blue-green algae), Protoctista (for example, red algae, slime molds, and amoebas and other protozoa), and fungi. (See Linnean classification.)