genus
gb/d͡ʒˈinəs/ us/d͡ʒˈinəs/
B2
English
~ 5100
nem, génusz, kategória
NOUN
B2
TECHNICAL
1
Usage pattern:
the genus [Name]
Tigers and lions belong to the genus Panthera.
A tigrisek és az oroszlánok a Panthera nembe tartoznak.
The researchers described a new genus of cave-dwelling fish.
A kutatók a barlanglakó halak egy új nemét írták le.
Within the genus Canis, wolves and coyotes are closely related.
The genus Homo first appeared in Africa millions of years ago.
In binomial names, the genus name is capitalized and italicized.
Learner examples
A lion is in the genus Panthera.
Az oroszlán a Panthera nembe tartozik.
She studied a new genus of beetles.
A bogarak egy új nemét tanulmányozta.
The genus comes before the species in the name.
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse genus with genius (a very intelligent person). Also, the plural of genus is usually genera, not genuses. In scientific writing, the genus name is capitalized and italicized.
Meaning
Biological rank above species
Collocations
genus and species
|the genus Homo
|a genus of beetles
|within the genus
|genus name
Synonyms
taxon (A general term for any taxonomic unit; not limited to the rank of genus.)
|
taxonomic group (Broader and less specific; can refer to any rank.)
Antonyms
species (A more specific rank below genus.)
|
family (A more general rank above genus.)
Themes
science
|biology
|nature
Definition
A scientific group that includes one or more closely related species; it is above species and below family.
A principal rank in biological classification that groups closely related species and is ranked above species and below family.
NOUN
C1
FORMAL
2
Usage pattern:
a genus of [things]
In Aristotle’s system, a genus is divided into species by differentiae.
Arisztotelész rendszerében a nem fajalkotó különbségek révén fajokra oszlik.
Some critics treat tragedy as a genus of dramatic art.
Egyes kritikusok a tragédiát a drámai művészet egyik nemének tekintik.
These disorders fall under the same genus but differ in severity.
Learner examples
In old philosophy, a genus is a very general group.
A régi filozófiában a nem nagyon általános csoportnak számít.
This book puts both ideas in the same genus.
Ez a könyv mindkét elképzelést ugyanabba a kategóriába sorolja.
The genus can be split into smaller species.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse genus with genre. Genre is a type of art or writing (e.g., a film genre), while genus here means a general class in logic or classification.
Meaning
General class or kind
Collocations
genus and species
|the highest genus
|under this genus
|a genus of concepts
|divide by differentia
Synonyms
category (Most common everyday term; less tied to formal logic.)
|
class (Neutral term for a group; broader than the logical sense.)
|
kind (Informal and general; lacks the technical contrast with species.)
Antonyms
species (A narrower, more specific subdivision of a genus in logic or classification.)
|
individual (A single instance, contrasted with a general class.)
Themes
philosophy
|logic
|academia
|education
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A very general group or class that can be divided into smaller kinds.
A broad class or category under which more specific types (species) are grouped, especially in logic and philosophy.
NOUN
C2
TECHNICAL
3
génusz
C2
Usage pattern:
a surface of genus [number]
A torus has genus one, while a sphere has genus zero.
A tórusz génusza egy, míg a gömbé nulla.
They computed the genus of the algebraic curve.
Kiszámították az algebrai görbe génuszát.
The graph can be embedded on a surface of genus g.
Learner examples
A sphere has genus zero.
A gömb génusza nulla.
A donut shape has genus one.
A fánk alakú felület génusza egy.
The graph has genus two.
Common mistake:
Do not confuse genus with genius. Also, the plural is usually genera, even in mathematics.
Meaning
Math: surface 'holes' count
Collocations
genus zero
|genus one
|surface of genus g
|genus of a curve
|graph genus
Themes
mathematics
|science
Definition
In math, a number that shows how many holes a surface has.
In mathematics, especially topology, a number that represents how many handles or 'holes' a surface has (e.g., sphere: 0, torus: 1).
Grammar
Dictionary form
genus
IPA
GB/d͡ʒˈinəs/
US/d͡ʒˈinəs/
Syllables & stress
genus (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (genus)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: genus
- Plural: genera, genuses
Word family
Forms
genera
noun
genuses
noun
Core family
generic
adjective B2
Related words
generically
adverb
Advanced or less common
subgenus
noun
Expressions
at the genus level
1/ˈæt ðə d͡ʒˈinəs lˈɛvəl/
fixed phrase
technical
At the genus rank
Talking about classification using the genus, not species or family.
Examples
- The analysis was done at the genus level due to limited data.
- Some traits are only informative at the genus level.
genus and species
1/d͡ʒˈinəs ˈænd spˈiʃiz/
fixed phrase
technical
Binomial name pair
The two parts of a scientific name: the genus and the species.
Examples
- In biology class we learned to write the genus and species for each organism.
- The label shows the genus and species of the plant.
genus name
1/d͡ʒˈinəs nˈeɪm/
fixed phrase
technical
First part of a binomial name
The first word in a scientific name, which shows the genus.
Examples
- The genus name is capitalized and italicized.
- In Homo sapiens, Homo is the genus name.
of the genus
1/əv ðə d͡ʒˈinəs/
fixed phrase
technical
Belonging to a genus
Used to say that something is in a certain genus.
Examples
- We collected several orchids of the genus Dendrobium.
- This fossil is of the genus Australopithecus.
surface of genus g
1/sˈɚfɪs əv d͡ʒˈinəs d͡ʒˈi/
fixed phrase
technical
Topology: surface with g holes
A math way to describe a surface by saying how many holes it has.
Examples
- The algorithm works for any surface of genus g.
- They studied embeddings on a surface of genus two.
within the genus
1/wɪðˈɪn ðə d͡ʒˈinəs/
fixed phrase
technical
Inside a particular genus
Used to talk about members or differences inside one genus.
Examples
- Variation within the genus is surprisingly high.
- Within the genus Canis, dogs and wolves can interbreed.