Definitions for species
ˈspi ʃiz, -sizspecies

Princeton's WordNet(4.33 / 6 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(4.12 / 9 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  

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. Matrix, The:

   Agent Smith I'd like to share a revelation that I've had during my time here. It came to me when I tried to classify your species. I realized that you're not actually mammals. Every mammal on this planet instinctively develops a natural equilibrium with the surrounding environment, but you humans do not. You move to an area, and you multiply, and multiply, until every natural resource is consumed. The only way you can survive is to spread to another area. There is another organism on this planet that follows the same pattern. A virus. Human beings are a disease, a cancer of this planet, you are a plague, and we are the cure.

2. Gisli Vikingsson:

   The common misconception is that we are allowing an endangered species to be hunted.

3. Senate Committee on Commerce:

   Sharks and the scientists who study them have led us innovations in improvements in aerodynamics, renewable energy, electrical sensors, and health and medical research. Innovative shark research can benefit marine ecosystems and continue to raise public awareness about these important species.

4. Dallas Zoo:

   While she was only here for a few months, Kipenzi was a beacon of light for her species and for the millions who watched her birth live on Animal Planet.

5. Jelle Wiersma:

   It is extremely fascinating and important for the science of paleontology that we can read so much information from the fossil record, allowing us to better understand extinct organisms and the ecosystems they were a part of, a major long-term goal of our work in southern Utah is to try and understand why the species in The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument differ from relatives of the same geologic age found in other parts of Laramidia.

Images & Illustrations of species

Popularity rank by frequency of use