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tautonym

[taw-tuh-nim]
noun Biology.
  1. a scientific name in which the generic and the specific names are the same, as Chloris chloris (the greenfinch).
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Origin of tautonym

1895–1900; < Greek tautṓnymos of the same name, equivalent to tauto- tauto- + -ōnymos named; see -onym
Related formstau·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. 2018
British Dictionary definitions for tautonym

tautonym

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