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species

 - 13 dictionary results

spe⋅cies

  [spee-sheez, -seez] noun, plural -cies, adjective
Use species in a Sentence
–noun
1. a class of individuals having some common characteristics or qualities; distinct sort or kind.
2. Biology. the major subdivision of a genus or subgenus, regarded as the basic category of biological classification, composed of related individuals that resemble one another, are able to breed among themselves, but are not able to breed with members of another species.
3. Logic.
a. one of the classes of things included with other classes in a genus.
b. the set of things within one of these classes.
4. Ecclesiastical.
a. the external form or appearance of the bread or the wine in the Eucharist.
b. either of the Eucharistic elements.
5. Obsolete. specie; coin.
6. the species, the human race; mankind: a study of the species.
–adjective
7. Horticulture. pertaining to a plant that is a representative member of a species, one that is not a hybrid or variety: a species rose; a species gladiolus.
Origin:
1545–55; < L speciēs appearance, form, sort, kind, equiv. to spec(ere) to look, regard + -iēs abstract n. suffix

spe⋅cie

1  [spee-shee, -see]
–noun
1. coined money; coin.
—Idiom
2. in specie,
a. in the same kind.
b. (of money) in coin.
c. in a similar manner; in kind: Such treachery should be repaid in specie.
d. Law. in the identical shape, form, etc., as specified.
Origin:
1545–55; < L (in) speciē (in) kind; see species

spe⋅cie

2  [spee-shee, -see]
–noun Nonstandard.
species.
Origin:
by back formation, construing species as pl. n.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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spe·cie   (spē'shē, -sē)   
n.  Coined money; coin.

[From (in) specie, (in) the actual form, from Latin (in) speciē, (in) kind, ablative of speciēs; see species.]
spe·cies   (spē'shēz, -sēz)   
n.   pl. species

  1. Biology

    1. A fundamental category of taxonomic classification, ranking below a genus or subgenus and consisting of related organisms capable of interbreeding. See Table at taxonomy.

    2. An organism belonging to such a category, represented in binomial nomenclature by an uncapitalized Latin adjective or noun following a capitalized genus name, as in Ananas comosus, the pineapple, and Equus caballus, the horse.

    3. A kind, variety, or type: "No species of performing artist is as self-critical as a dancer" (Susan Sontag).

    4. The human race; humankind.

    5. The outward appearance or form of the Eucharistic elements that is retained after their consecration.

    6. Either of the consecrated elements of the Eucharist.

    7. An outward form or appearance.

    8. Specie.

  2. Logic A class of individuals or objects grouped by virtue of their common attributes and assigned a common name; a division subordinate to a genus.

    1. A kind, variety, or type: "No species of performing artist is as self-critical as a dancer" (Susan Sontag).

    2. The human race; humankind.

    3. The outward appearance or form of the Eucharistic elements that is retained after their consecration.

    4. Either of the consecrated elements of the Eucharist.

    5. An outward form or appearance.

    6. Specie.

  4. Roman Catholic Church

    1. The outward appearance or form of the Eucharistic elements that is retained after their consecration.

    2. Either of the consecrated elements of the Eucharist.

    3. An outward form or appearance.

    4. Specie.

  5. Obsolete

    1. An outward form or appearance.

    2. Specie.


[Middle English, logical classification, from Latin speciēs, a seeing, kind, form; see spek- 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

species [(spee-sheez, spee-seez)]

A group of closely related and interbreeding living things; the smallest standard unit of biological classification. Species can be divided into varieties, races, breeds, or subspecies. Red pines, sugar maples, cats, dogs, chimpanzees, and people are species; Siamese cats and beagles are varieties, not species. (See Linnean classification.)

Note: The term can be used to refer to any group of related things: “This species of novel has become quite popular in recent years.”
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

specie 
1615, "coin, money in the form of coins" (as opposed to paper money or bullion), from phrase in specie "in the real or actual form" (1551), from L. in specie "in kind," abl. of species "kind, form, sort" (see species).

species 
1551, a classification in logic, from L. species "kind, sort," originally "appearance, sight, a seeing," related to specere "to look at, to see, behold," from PIE *spek- (see scope (1)). Biological sense is from 1608. Endangered species first attested 1964. Speciesism "discrimination against certain animals based on assumption of human superiority" first attested 1975 in Richard D. Ryder's "Victims of Science."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: spe·cie
Pronunciation: 'spE-shE, -sE
Function: noun
Etymology: from in specie, from Latin, in kind
: money in coin—in specie : in the identical form and without alteration or substitution in specie>
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: spe·cies
Pronunciation: 'spE-(")shEz, -(")sEz
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural species
1 a : a categoryof biological classification ranking immediately below the genus or subgenus, comprising related organisms or populations potentially capable of interbreeding, and being designated by a binomial thatconsists of the name of the genus followed by a Latin or latinized uncapitalized noun or adjective agreeing grammatically with the genus name b : an individual or kind belonging to abiological species
2 : a particular kind of atomic nucleus, atom, molecule, or ion species>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

species spe·cies (spē'shēz, -sēz)
n. pl. species

  1. A fundamental category of taxonomic classification, ranking below a genus or subgenus and consisting of related organisms capable of interbreeding.

  2. An organism belonging to such a category, represented in binomial nomenclature by an uncapitalized Latin adjective or noun following a capitalized genus name, as in the bacterium Escherichia coli.

  3. A class of pharmaceutical preparations consisting of a mixture of dried plants in sufficiently fine division to be used in making boiled extracts or infusions.

  4. A specific type of atomic nucleus, atom, ion, or molecule.

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
species   (spē'shēz, spē'sēz)  Pronunciation Key 
A group of organisms having many characteristics in common and ranking below a genus. Organisms that reproduce sexually and belong to the same species interbreed and produce fertile offspring. Species names are usually written lower case and in italics, as rex in Tyrannosaurus rex. See Table at taxonomy.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Idioms & Phrases

species

see endangered species.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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