fauna
[faw-nuh]
- the animals of a given region or period considered as a whole.
- a treatise on the animals of a given region or period.
- (initial capital letter) Roman Religion. Bona Dea.
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Origin of fauna
Bona Dea
[boh-nuh dee-uh, dey-uh]
- an ancient Roman goddess of chastity and fertility.
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Origin of Bona Dea
< Latin: literally, (the) Good Goddess
Also called Fauna.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for fauna
Contemporary Examples
The area is a disturbed wetland, invaded by non-native melaleuca trees that have crowded out native flora and fauna.
You think of the rainforest as this incredibly abundant place of fauna and animals and flora.
Historical Examples
It is to me more what you call a 'beast-garden,' to include all species of fauna.
The SpendersHarry Leon Wilson
I have captioned them with present-day names of the flora and fauna.
The History of LouisianaLe Page Du Pratz
His papers on the fauna and flora made him known to scientific societies.
Amy FosterJoseph Conrad
Fauna: the assemblage of animals inhabiting a region or country.
Explanation of Terms Used in EntomologyJohn. B. Smith
Fauna was the wife of Faunus, and participated in his functions.
Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and RomeE.M. Berens
fauna
- all the animal life of a given place or time, esp when distinguished from the plant life (flora)
- a descriptive list of such animals
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Word Origin
C18: from New Latin, from Late Latin Fauna a goddess, sister of Faunus
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for fauna
n.
1771, collective name for animals of a certain region or time, from Late Latin Fauna, a Roman fertility goddess, wife, sister, or daughter (or some combination thereof) of Faunus (see faun).
Popularized by Linnaeus, who adopted it as a companion word to flora and used it in the title of his 1746 catalogue of the animals of Sweden, "Fauna Suecica." First used in English by naturalist Gilbert White.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
fauna
(fô′nə)- Animals, especially the animals of a particular region or period, considered as a group.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
fauna
[fô′nə]
- The animals of a particular region or time period.
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
fauna
[(faw-nuh)]
Animals, especially the animals of a particular place and time.
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The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.