trivial name

American  

[triv-ee-uhl naym] / ˈtrɪv i əl ˌneɪm /

noun

trivial names plural

1. the common name used in everyday language to refer to an organism or to a chemical element or compound, such as dog for Canis familiaris or vinegar for acetic acid.

2. Biology. specific epithet.

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trivial name Scientific  

/ trĭv′ē-əl /

1. A common or vernacular name as distinguished from a scientific name, as chimpanzee for Pan troglodytes.

2. A common, historic, or convenient name for a substance. The trivial name is often derived from the source in which the substance was discovered. It is not systematic and is not used in modern official nomenclature. Sucrose is the trivial name for β - D -fructofuranosyl- α - D -glucopyranoside.

3. Compare chemical name

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• trivial names
  plural

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

trivial name

Speaking on his first visit to Wales since his appointment, he said he had been in the post ten days and would not submit to "trivial" name tests.

From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2015

Hence the trivial name by which this species is known to the hunters.

From The Hunters' Feast Conversations Around the Camp Fire by Reid, Mayne

Kew. assigning to it a new specific description, and a new trivial name: our drawing was made from a plant which flowered in the stove of Messrs. Grimwood and Co.

From The Botanical Magazine Vol. 7 or, Flower-Garden Displayed by Curtis, William

It is this peculiarity of nest construction — in shape like a Dutch oven — that has given the bird what DeKay considers its "trivial name."

From Bird Neighbors by Blanchan, Neltje

The trivial name of the Arundo arenaria, or coarse unprofitable grass growing on the sea-shore.

From The Sailor's Word-Book An Alphabetical Digest of Nautical Terms, including Some More Especially Military and Scientific, but Useful to Seamen; as well as Archaisms of Early Voyagers, etc. by Belcher, Edward, Sir