taxon

[ tak-son ]

noun

, plural tax·a [tak, -s, uh].

1. a taxonomic category, as a species or genus.

taxon

/ ˈtæksɒn /

noun

1. biology any taxonomic group or rank

taxon

/ tăk′sŏn′ /

, Plural taxa

1. A taxonomic category or group, such as a phylum, order, family, genus, or species.

Word History and Origins

Origin of taxon¹

First recorded in 1945–50; from Greek táx(is) “arranged, put in order” + -on neuter noun ending; taxis ¹, -on ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of taxon¹

C20: back formation from taxonomy

Example Sentences

Taxol′ogy, the science of classification; Taxon′omer, a taxonomist.

From Project Gutenberg

Other entries are first usages, in chronological order, of other names (synonyms) that have been applied to the taxon in question.

From Project Gutenberg

The second entry is the name-combination herein applied to the taxon.

From Project Gutenberg

Because there is considerable variation correlated with sex and size, each taxon occurs in the key in more than one couplet.

From Project Gutenberg

The last specialization is seen in at least one taxon of Orthogeomys (Orthogeomys cherriei costaricensis).

From Project Gutenberg