fauna

[ faw-nuh ]
/ ˈfɔ nə /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR fauna ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural fau·nas, fau·nae [faw-nee]. /ˈfɔ ni/.

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

1765–75; <New Latin, special use of Latin Fauna, a feminine counterpart to Faunus; cf. Flora

OTHER WORDS FROM fauna

faunal, adjectivefau·nal·ly, adverb

Words nearby fauna

fault tree, faulty, faulty union, fault zone, faun, fauna, faunistic, fauns, Fauntleroy suit, faunula, Faunus
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

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Words related to fauna

animality, animals

Example sentences from the Web for fauna

British Dictionary definitions for fauna

fauna
/ (ˈfɔːnə) /

noun plural -nas or -nae (-niː)

all the animal life of a given place or time, esp when distinguished from the plant life (flora)
a descriptive list of such animals

Derived forms of fauna

faunal, adjectivefaunally, adverb

Word Origin for fauna

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

Medical definitions for fauna

fauna
[ fô′nə ]

n. pl. fau•nas

Animals, especially the animals of a particular region or period, considered as a group.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Scientific definitions for fauna

fauna
[ fô′nə ]

Plural faunas faunae (fô′nē′)

The animals of a particular region or time period.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Cultural definitions for fauna

fauna
[ (faw-nuh) ]

Animals, especially the animals of a particular place and time.

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.