Main Entry:

ge·nus

Pronunciation:

\ˈjē-nəs, ˈje-\

Function:

noun

Inflected Form(s):

plural gen·era \ˈje-nə-rə\ also ge·nus·es

Etymology:

Latin gener-, genus birth, race, kind — more at kin

Date:

1551

1: a class, kind, or group marked by common characteristics or by one common characteristic ; specifically : a category of biological classification ranking between the family and the species, comprising structurally or phylogenetically related species or an isolated species exhibiting unusual differentiation, and being designated by a Latin or latinized capitalized singular noun2: a class of objects divided into several subordinate species