species

[ spee-sheez, -seez ]
/ ˈspi ʃiz, -siz /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR species ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural spe·cies.

adjective

Horticulture. pertaining to a plant that is a representative member of a species, one that is not a hybrid or variety: a species rose; a species gladiolus.

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Origin of species

1545–55; < Latin speciēs appearance, form, sort, kind, equivalent to spec(ere) to look, regard + -iēs abstract noun suffix

OTHER WORDS FROM species

su·per·spe·cies, noun, plural su·per·spe·cies.un·der·spe·cies, noun, plural un·der·spe·cies.

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH species

genus speciesspecie species specious

Words nearby species

specialty, speciate, speciation, specie, specie point, species, species-specific, species-specific antigen, speciesism, specif., specifiable

Definition for species (2 of 3)

specie1
[ spee-shee, -see ]
/ ˈspi ʃi, -si /

noun

coined money; coin.

Origin of specie

1
1545–55; < Latin (in) speciē (in) kind; see species

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH specie

specie species specious

Definition for species (3 of 3)

specie2
[ spee-shee, -see ]
/ ˈspi ʃi, -si /

noun Nonstandard.

species.

Origin of specie

2
by back formation, construing species as plural noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to species

sort, category, kind, group, description, division, breed, number, collection, lot, type, order, nature, stripe, likes

Example sentences from the Web for species

British Dictionary definitions for species (1 of 2)

species
/ (ˈspiːʃiːz, Latin ˈspiːʃɪˌiːz) /

noun plural -cies

Word Origin for species

C16: from Latin: appearance, from specere to look

British Dictionary definitions for species (2 of 2)

specie
/ (ˈspiːʃiː) /

noun

coin money, as distinguished from bullion or paper money
in specie
  1. (of money) in coin
  2. in kind
  3. law in the actual form specified

Word Origin for specie

C16: from the Latin phrase in speciē in kind
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 species

species
[ spē′shēz, -sēz ]

n. pl. species

A fundamental category of taxonomic classification, ranking below a genus or subgenus and consisting of related organisms capable of interbreeding.
An organism belonging to such a category, represented in binomial nomenclature by an uncapitalized Latin adjective or noun following a capitalized genus name, as in the bacterium Escherichia coli.
A class of pharmaceutical preparations consisting of a mixture of dried plants in sufficiently fine division to be used in making boiled extracts or infusions.
A specific type of atomic nucleus, atom, ion, or molecule.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Scientific definitions for species

species
[ spē′shēz, spē′sēz ]

A group of organisms having many characteristics in common and ranking below a genus. Organisms that reproduce sexually and belong to the same species interbreed and produce fertile offspring. Species names are usually written lower case and in italics, as rex in Tyrannosaurus rex. See Table at taxonomy.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Cultural definitions for species

species
[ (spee-sheez, spee-seez) ]

A group of closely related and interbreeding living things; the smallest standard unit of biological classification. Species can be divided into varieties, races, breeds, or subspecies. Red pines, sugar maples, cats, dogs, chimpanzees, and people are species; Siamese cats and beagles are varieties, not species. (See Linnean classification.)

notes for species

The term can be used to refer to any group of related things: “This species of novel has become quite popular in recent years.”
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.

Idioms and Phrases with species

species

see endangered species.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.