tautonym

[ taw-tuh-nim ]

/ ˈtɔ tə nɪm /

noun Biology.

a scientific name in which the generic and the specific names are the same, as Chloris chloris (the greenfinch).

Nearby words

tautology, tautomer, tautomeric fiber, tautomerism, tautomerize, tautonym, tautosyllabic, tav, tavel, tavener, tavern

Origin of tautonym

1895–1900; < Greek tautṓnymos of the same name, equivalent to tauto- tauto- + -ōnymos named; see -onym

Related forms

tau·to·nym·ic, tau·ton·y·mous

[taw-ton-uh-muh s] /tɔˈtɒn ə məs/, adjectivetau·ton·y·my, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for tautonym

tautonym

/ (ˈtɔːtənɪm) /

noun

biology a taxonomic name in which the generic and specific components are the same, as in Rattus rattus (black rat)

Derived Forms

tautonymic or tautonymous (tɔːˈtɒnɪməs), adjectivetautonymy, noun

Word Origin for tautonym

C20: from Greek tautonymos. See tauto-, -onym

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