genus

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ge·nus / ˈjēnəs/ • n. (pl. gen·e·ra / ˈjenərə/ or ge·nus·es) Biol. a grouping of organisms having common characteristics distinct from those of other such groupings. The genus is a principal taxonomic category that ranks above species and below family, and is denoted by a capitalized Latin name, e.g., Leo. ∎  (in philosophical and general use) a class of things that have common characteristics and that can be divided into subordinate kinds.

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