fauna

[ faw-nuh ]
/ ˈfɔ nə /

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.

QUIZZES

QUIZ TIME: TEST YOUR MEMORY OF THE MAY 2020 WORDS OF THE DAY

Let the aeolian gusts transport you back to these popular Words of the Day from the month of May. How many do you remember?
Question 1 of 10
Which of the following words means “to travel or journey, especially to walk on foot”?
hightail
peregrinate
perpetrate
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of fauna

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

OTHER WORDS FROM fauna

fau·nal, adjectivefau·nal·ly, adverb

Words nearby fauna

faultfinding, faultless, faulty, faulty union, faun, fauna, faunistic, fauns, fauntleroy suit, faunula, faunus
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for faunal

British Dictionary definitions for faunal

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 faunal

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 faunal

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 faunal

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.