Langimage
English

taxonomy

|tax-on-o-my|

C1

/tækˈsɒnəmi/

classification system

Etymology
Etymology Information

'taxonomy' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'taxis,' where 'taxis' meant 'arrangement' and 'nomia' meant 'method.'

Historical Evolution

'taxis' transformed into the French word 'taxonomie,' and eventually became the modern English word 'taxonomy' through Middle English.

Meaning Changes

Initially, it meant 'method of arrangement,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'science of classification.'

Meanings by Part of Speech

Noun 1

the science of classification, especially in biology, dealing with the arrangement of organisms into categories based on similarities and differences.

The taxonomy of plants helps botanists understand the relationships between different species.

Synonyms

Noun 2

a system or scheme of classification.

The library uses a taxonomy to organize its books by subject.

Synonyms

Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:45