species

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noun spe·cies \ˈspē-(ˌ)shēz, -(ˌ)sēz\

Definition of species

plural

1a : kind, sortb : a class of individuals having common attributes and designated by a common name; specifically : a logical division of a genus or more comprehensive class confessing sins in species and in numberc : the human race : human beings —often used with the survival of the species in the nuclear aged (1) : a category of biological classification ranking immediately below the genus or subgenus, comprising related organisms or populations potentially capable of interbreeding, and being designated by a binomial that consists of the name of a genus followed by a Latin or latinized uncapitalized noun or adjective agreeing grammatically with the genus name (2) : an individual or kind belonging to a biological speciese : a particular kind of atomic nucleus, atom, molecule, or ion
2 : the consecrated eucharistic elements of the Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox Eucharist
3a : a mental image; also : a sensible objectb : an object of thought correlative with a natural object

Middle English, from Latin, appearance, kind, species, from specere to look — more at spy

First Known Use: 14th century

adjective spe·cies

: belonging to a biological species as distinguished from a horticultural variety a species rose

1899

1899

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noun

biology : a group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants : a group of related animals or plants that is smaller than a genus
: a particular group of things or people that belong together or have some shared quality

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noun spe·cies \ˈspē-shēz, -sēz\

plural

1 : a group of similar living things that ranks below the genus in scientific classification and is made up of individuals able to produce offspring with one another The one-humped camel is a different species from the two-humped camel.
2 : a class of things of the same kind and with the same name : kind, sort

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noun spe·cies \ˈspē-(ˌ)shēz, -(ˌ)sēz\

plural

1a: a category of biological classification ranking immediately below the genus or subgenus, comprising related organisms or populations potentially capable of interbreeding, and being designated by a binomial that consists of the name of the genus followed by a Latin or latinized uncapitalized noun or adjective agreeing grammatically with the genus nameb: an individual or kind belonging to a biological species
2: a particular kind of atomic nucleus, atom, molecule, or ion production of DNA damage by active oxygen species