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fauna

[ faw-nuh ]
/ ˈfɔ nə /
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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
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

Words related to fauna

animality, animals

How to use fauna in a sentence

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.
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