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phylum

 - 7 dictionary results

phy⋅lum

  [fahy-luhm]
–noun, plural -la  [-luh] .
1. Biology. the primary subdivision of a taxonomic kingdom, grouping together all classes of organisms that have the same body plan.
2. Linguistics. a category consisting of language stocks that, because of cognates in vocabulary, are considered likely to be related by common origin. Compare stock (def. 13).
Use phylum in a Sentence
Origin:
1875–80; < NL < Gk phŷlon tribe, stock; see phylon

Related forms:
phylar, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
Cite This Source Link To phylum
phy·lum   (fī'ləm)   
n.   pl. phy·la (-lə)

  1. Biology A primary division of a kingdom, as of the animal kingdom, ranking next above a class in size. See Table at taxonomy.

  2. Linguistics A large division of possibly genetically related families of languages or linguistic stocks.


[New Latin phȳlum, from Greek phūlon, class; see bheuə- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Cultural Dictionary

phylum [(feye-luhm)]

plur. phyla

One of the major divisions of the kingdoms of living things; the second-largest standard unit of biological classification. The arthropods, chordates, and mollusks are phyla. Phyla in the plant kingdom are frequently called divisions. (See Linnean classification.)

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

phylum 
"division of the plant or animal kingdom," 1876, from Mod.L., coined by Fr. naturalist Baron Georges Cuvier (1769-1832), from Gk. phylon "race, stock," related to phyle "tribe, clan," and phylein "bring forth" (see physic).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: phy·lum
Pronunciation: 'fI-l&m
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural phy·la /-l&/
: a majorgroup of animals or in some classifications plants sharing one or more fundamental characteristics that set them apart from all other animals and plants and forming a primary category of the animal orplant kingdom phylum Arthropoda>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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phylum phy·lum (fī'ləm)
n. pl. phy·la (-lə)
A taxonomic category that is a primary division of a kingdom and ranks above a class in size.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Science Dictionary
phylum   (fī'ləm)  Pronunciation Key 
Plural phyla
A group of organisms ranking above a class and below a kingdom. See Table at taxonomy.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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