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Genus vs Specie - What's the difference?

genus | specie |

As nouns the difference between genus and specie

is that genus is a rank in the classification of organisms, below family and above species; a taxon at that rank while specie is type or kind, in various uses of the phrase in specie.

genus

English

Noun

(genera)
  • (biology, taxonomy) a rank in the classification of organisms, below family and above species; a taxon at that rank
    • All magnolias belong to the genus ''Magnolia .
    Other species of the genus ''Bos'' are often called cattle or wild cattle.
    There are only two genera and species of seadragons .
  • *
    • Müller criticized the division of the "Jubuleae" into two families and he cited Jubula as an annectant genus .
  • A group with common attributes.
  • *1945 , (Bertrand Russell), A History of Western Philosophy , p. 655:
  • *:Recollection is one of a whole genus of effects which are more or less peculiar to the phenomena that we naturally call "mental."
  • (topology) A number measuring some aspect of the complexity of any of various manifolds or graphs
  • (semantics) Within a definition, a broader category of the defined concept.

    • Synonyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    * summum genus

    Related terms

    * general * generic * generate * generation * gender * genocide * genre * infrageneric

    See also

    * generic name * class * division * kingdom * order * phylum * species * (semantics) differentia

    External links

    * *

    Anagrams

    * English nouns with irregular plurals ----

    specie

    English

    Etymology 1

    Originally in the phrase in specie; from (etyl) , ablative singular of species. Compare payment in kind.

    Noun

    (-)
  • Type or kind, in various uses of the phrase in specie .
  • Money, especially in the form of coins made from precious metal, that has an intrinsic value; coinage.
  • * 1982 , (Lawrence Durrell), Constance'', Faber & Faber 2004 (''Avignon Quintet ), p. 805:
    • ‘It was not money or specie he thought himself hunting!’
  • * 2006 , (Thomas Pynchon), Against the Day , Vintage 2007, p. 8:
    • “Dick” Counterfly had absquatulated swiftly into the night, leaving his son with only a pocketful of specie and the tender admonition, “Got to ‘scram,’ kid — write if you get work.”

    See also

    * payment in kind

    Etymology 2

    back-formation from species (plural), the final "s" being misinterpreted as a plural ending.

    Noun

    (head)
  • (proscribed)
    • Usage notes
    * Although in wide use, this is universally considered by prescriptive references to be an error- the standard singular, species, must be used instead.

    Anagrams

    * ----