See Also: species(dictionary)
species(dictionary)
te-26s species(medicine)
species(encyclopedia)
Species(medicine)
species inquirendum(medicine)
species tolerance(medicine)
species-specific(medicine)
species indeterminata(medicine)
species specificity(medicine)

species (iou)



species noun. Pl. same. LME.
[Latin (sing. & pl.) = appearance, form, kind, etc., from spec- base of specere look, behold. Cf. SPECIE, SPICE noun.]
I.
a. A class of things having some common qualities or characteristics. LME.
Independent The 'new man',..who is happy to..look after the children, is still a rare species.
b. A kind, a sort, (of). L16.
Ld Macaulay No species of fiction is so delightful..as..old English drama. J. G. Farrell He saw them as a species of game that one could shoot.
c. pl. (Nautical). Sorts of provisions. E18-E19.
Logic. A class of things subordinate to a genus and containing individuals sharing an attribute or attributes absent from other members of the genus and called by a common name; the second of the five predicables. M16.
b. The essential quality or specific properties of a thing. L16-M17.
a. Biology. A taxonomic grouping ranking next below genus and subgenus, which contains organisms that are uniquely distinguished from others by certain shared characteristics and usu. by an inability to interbreed with members of other such groupings; such a grouping as denoted by a Latin binomial, and freq. subdivided into subspecies, races, varieties, etc.; the organisms of such a grouping. E17.
J. Hersey I wondered what vile excuse for the species Homo sapiens could have done such a thing? Choice Most of the species that were declining are now holding their own in our conservation areas.
b. Mineralogy. A distinct kind of mineral with a unique set of physical and chemical properties. M17.
c. Chemistry & Physics. A particular kind of molecule, ion, free radical, etc.; a distinct kind of atom (esp. a radioactive one) or subatomic particle. L19.
d. Horticulture. A garden flower, shrub, etc., that represents the plant in its pure or natural state and is not a cultivar or garden hybrid. Cf. species rose below. L20.
a. A particular kind of coin or money. E17-M18.
b. Coin, coin money. (Not always clearly distinguishable from SPECIE 3.) E17-E19.
a. pl. The separate ingredients used in compounding a perfume, drug, etc. Only in 17.
b. A mixture used in embalming. Only in M18.
II.
Appearance; outward form. Now only (Law), a form or shape into which materials are converted (cf. SPECIFICATION 2b). LME.
b. Geometry. Form, irrespective of size. M19.
The visible form or image of a thing. L16-L17.
b. The reflected image of a thing, a reflection. M17-L18.
Ecclesiastical. The visible form of each of the elements of consecrated bread and wine used in the Eucharist; either of these elements. L16.
Metaphysics. A supposed emanation from a thing, forming the direct object of cognition for the senses. L16-M18.
b. A mental impression. M17-E18.
A thing seen; esp. an unreal vision, an illusion. M-L17.
Philosophy. = IDEA noun 1. L17-L18.
Phrases: endangered species: see ENDANGER 2. pioneer species: see PIONEER noun 3b. protected species: see PROTECT 1c. the species the human race. twin species: see TWIN adjective & noun.
Comb.: species pair Biology a pair of species which are similar, sympatric, and closely related, but distinct; species-poor adjective (of a habitat or site) containing only a small range of species; species-rich adjective (of a habitat or site) containing a great diversity of species; species richness species-rich quality; species rose: belonging to a distinct species and not to one of the many varieties produced by hybridization; species sanitation Medicine measures taken against a particular species of insect vector in order to reduce the incidence of disease; species-specific adjective confined to, or characteristic of, the members of one species only.
specieshood noun (chiefly Psychology & Sociology) the condition of being (a member of) a species, esp. of being or perceiving oneself as a member of the human species M20.