taxonomy

taxonomy (tækˈsɒnəmɪ)

—n
1.	a. the branch of biology concerned with the classification of organisms into groups based on similarities of structure, origin, etc
	b. the practice of arranging organisms in this way
2.	the science or practice of classification

[C19: from French taxonomie, from Greek taxis order + -nomy]

taxonomic

—*adj*

taxo'nomical

—*adj*

taxo'nomically

—*adv*

tax'onomist

—n

tax'onomer

—n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

taxonomy

1828, from Fr. taxonomie (1813), introduced by Linnæus and coined irregularly from Gk. taxis "arrangement" (see taxidermy) + -nomia "method," from -nomos "managing," from nemein "manage" (see numismatics).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage

Medical Dictionary

taxonomy tax·on·o·my (tāk-sŏn'ə-mē)
n.

The classification of organisms in an ordered system that indicates natural relationships.
The science, laws, or principles of classification; systematics.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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American Heritage

Science Dictionary

taxonomy

(tāk-sŏn'ə-mē) Pronunciation Key

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The scientific classification of organisms into specially named groups based either on shared characteristics or on evolutionary relationships as inferred from the fossil record or established by genetic analysis.

American Heritage

Cultural Dictionary

taxonomy [(tak-son-uh-mee)]

The classification of living things. (See Linnean classification.)

Example sentences

It isn't a bad emblem for the broader changes transforming the science of

taxonomy.

But it is possible to attempt a euphemistic taxonomy.

The taxonomy and phylogeny favoured by these authors is depicted in the

adjacent diagram.

Consider the flowing taxonomy of medical innovations.

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deuterostome evolutionary biology folksonomy numerical taxonomy taximetrics

Matching Quote

"The terms "splitters" and "lumpers" come from taxonomy, where the classifiers were separated into those who liked to create new taxa because of small differences and those who preferred to coalesce categories because of similarities. The concept has found wider applicability as knowledge in all fields expands. Specialists are confined to ever-narrowing domains while generalists survey the immensity of information in an effort, one hopes, to find higher orders of structure. It is clear that in the university and intellectual community ... the splitters are in command and the lumpers are in serious disarray, unable to keep up with the output of printouts that are generated in such a variety of ways. It is saddening to witness the loss of status of those engaged in integrative thought, for one sees in it the fragmentation of scientific and humanistic disciplines."

-Harold Morowitz

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