Definitions for species
ˈspi ʃiz, -sizspecies

Princeton's WordNet(4.43 / 7 votes)Rate this definition:

1. species(noun)

   (biology) taxonomic group whose members can interbreed

2. species(noun)

   a specific kind of something

   "a species of molecule"; "a species of villainy"

Wiktionary(4.21 / 10 votes)Rate this definition:

1. species(Noun)

   A group of plants or animals having similar appearance.

   This species of animal is unique to the area.

   Etymology: From species, from specio + -ies suffix signifying abstract noun.

2. species(Noun)

   A rank in the classification of organisms, below genus and above subspecies; a taxon at that rank

   Etymology: From species, from specio + -ies suffix signifying abstract noun.

3. species(Noun)

   A mineral with a unique chemical formula whose crystals belong to a unique crystallographic system.

   Etymology: From species, from specio + -ies suffix signifying abstract noun.

4. species(Noun)

   The image of something cast on a surface, or reflected from a surface, or refracted through a lens or telescope; a reflection.

   I cast the species of the Sun onto a sheet of paper through a telescope.

   Etymology: From species, from specio + -ies suffix signifying abstract noun.

5. species(Noun)

   Either of the two elements of the Eucharist after they have been consecrated, so named because they retain the image of the bread and wine before their transubstantiation into the body and blood of Christ.

   Etymology: From species, from specio + -ies suffix signifying abstract noun.

Webster Dictionary(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Species(noun)

   visible or sensible presentation; appearance; a sensible percept received by the imagination; an image

   Etymology: [L., a sight, outward appearance, shape, form, a particular sort, kind, or quality, a species. See Spice, n., and cf. Specie, Special.]

2. Species(noun)

   a group of individuals agreeing in common attributes, and designated by a common name; a conception subordinated to another conception, called a genus, or generic conception, from which it differs in containing or comprehending more attributes, and extending to fewer individuals. Thus, man is a species, under animal as a genus; and man, in its turn, may be regarded as a genus with respect to European, American, or the like, as species

   Etymology: [L., a sight, outward appearance, shape, form, a particular sort, kind, or quality, a species. See Spice, n., and cf. Specie, Special.]

3. Species(noun)

   in science, a more or less permanent group of existing things or beings, associated according to attributes, or properties determined by scientific observation

   Etymology: [L., a sight, outward appearance, shape, form, a particular sort, kind, or quality, a species. See Spice, n., and cf. Specie, Special.]

4. Species(noun)

   a sort; a kind; a variety; as, a species of low cunning; a species of generosity; a species of cloth

   Etymology: [L., a sight, outward appearance, shape, form, a particular sort, kind, or quality, a species. See Spice, n., and cf. Specie, Special.]

5. Species(noun)

   coin, or coined silver, gold, ot other metal, used as a circulating medium; specie

   Etymology: [L., a sight, outward appearance, shape, form, a particular sort, kind, or quality, a species. See Spice, n., and cf. Specie, Special.]

6. Species(noun)

   a public spectacle or exhibition

   Etymology: [L., a sight, outward appearance, shape, form, a particular sort, kind, or quality, a species. See Spice, n., and cf. Specie, Special.]

7. Species(noun)

   a component part of compound medicine; a simple

   Etymology: [L., a sight, outward appearance, shape, form, a particular sort, kind, or quality, a species. See Spice, n., and cf. Specie, Special.]

8. Species(noun)

   an officinal mixture or compound powder of any kind; esp., one used for making an aromatic tea or tisane; a tea mixture

   Etymology: [L., a sight, outward appearance, shape, form, a particular sort, kind, or quality, a species. See Spice, n., and cf. Specie, Special.]

9. Species(noun)

   the form or shape given to materials; fashion or shape; form; figure

   Etymology: [L., a sight, outward appearance, shape, form, a particular sort, kind, or quality, a species. See Spice, n., and cf. Specie, Special.]

Freebase(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Species

   In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, the difficulty of defining species is known as the species problem. Differing measures are often used, such as similarity of DNA, morphology, or ecological niche. Presence of specific locally adapted traits may further subdivide species into "infraspecific taxa" such as subspecies. Species hypothesized to have the same ancestors are placed in one genus, based on similarities. The similarity of species is judged based on comparison of physical attributes, especially their DNA sequences, where available. All species are given a two-part name, a "binomial name". The first part of a binomial name is the generic name, the genus of the species. The second part is either called the specific name or the specific epithet. For example, Boa constrictor is one of four species of the Boa genus. The first part of the name is capitalized, and the second part has a lower case. The binomial name is written in italics when printed and underlined when handwritten.

Editors Contribution(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. species

   A specific kind or type.

   The primary species of plants were noted with their plant passports.

   Submitted by MaryC on January 25, 2020  

Entomology(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Species

   an aggregation of individuals alike in appearance and structure, mating freely and producing young that themselves mate freely and bear fertile offspring resembling each other and their parents: a species includes all its varieties and races.

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'species' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #1003

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'species' in Written Corpus Frequency: #3999

3. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'species' in Nouns Frequency: #471

How to pronounce species?

1. 

   Alex

   US English

   

   Daniel

   British

   

   Karen

   Australian

   

   Veena

   Indian

How to say species in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of species in Chaldean Numerology is: 1

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of species in Pythagorean Numerology is: 4

Examples of species in a Sentence

1. Ramana Pemmaraju:

   OF ALL THE SPECIES THAT GOD CREATED, MAN IS THE MOST FRAGILE AND CERTAINLY UNCERTAIN!

2. Zhou Jinfeng:

   All medicinal treatment should be on the principle of 'do no harm' to those using, or making it and to the species it depends on; meaning in most cases no vertebrate should be used within TCM.

3. James Stroud:

   A major unexpected result of this study was that all species converged on the same new, lower level of thermal tolerance, while there was great variation in temperature tolerance before the cold event -- some, like the large-bodied brown basilisk, were very intolerant of low temperatures, while others like the Puerto Rican crested anole were more robust -- we observed that all species could now tolerate, on average, the same lowest temperature.

4. Samuel Turvey:

   The decline in wild Chinese giant salamander numbers has been catastrophic, mainly due to recent overexploitation for food, we hope that this new understanding of their species diversity has arrived in time to support their successful conservation, but urgent measures are required to protect any viable giant salamander populations that might remain.

5. Stuart Pimm:

   There are parts of the world where invasive species have gone amok, and that tells us we need to be very careful not to bring in any more to do any more harm, we need to be better stewards so that we can share these wonderful animals with our children and grandchildren.

Images & Illustrations of species

Popularity rank by frequency of use