SPECIES

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 .

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species

Noun

  1. A type or kind of thing.
  2. A group of plants or animals having similar appearance.
  3. A rank in the classification of organisms, below genus and above subspecies; a taxon at that rank
  4. A mineral with a unique chemical formula whose crystals belong to a unique crystallographic system.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. Visible or perceptible presentation; appearance; something perceived.
  8. Coin, or coined silver, gold, or other metal, used as a circulating medium; specie.
  9. A public spectacle or exhibition.
  10. A component part of compound medicine; a simple.
  11. An officinal mixture or compound powder of any kind; especially, one used for making an aromatic tea or tisane; a tea mixture.
  12. The form or shape given to materials; fashion or shape; form; figure.


The above text is a snippet from Wiktionary: species
and as such is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

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