Phylum

Pronunciation: /ˈfaɪləm/

Definitions of phylum

noun a principal taxonomic category that ranks above class and below kingdom, equivalent to the division in botany

Example Sentences

A1 A phylum is a group of related organisms in biology.

A2 In the animal kingdom, a phylum is a major taxonomic rank below kingdom and above class.

B1 There are over 30 different phyla in the animal kingdom, each with unique characteristics.

B2 The study of phyla helps scientists understand the evolutionary relationships between different species.

C1 Phylum Chordata includes all vertebrates and some invertebrates with a notochord.

C2 Taxonomists use morphological and molecular data to classify organisms into different phyla.

Examples of phylum in a Sentence

formal The phylum Chordata includes all vertebrates and some invertebrates with a notochord.

informal Did you know humans belong to the phylum Chordata?

slang I never knew there was a phylum called Chordata, sounds like a cool club.

figurative In the vast phylum of music genres, rock and roll stands out as a classic.

Grammatical Forms of phylum

• plural: phyla
• comparative: more phylum
• superlative: most phylum
• present tense: phylum
• future tense: will phylum
• perfect tense: have phylum
• continuous tense: is phylum
• singular: phylum
• positive degree: phylum
• infinitive: to phylum
• gerund: phylum
• participle: phylum

Origin and Evolution of phylum

First Known Use: 1876 year

Language of Origin: Greek

Story behind the word: The word 'phylum' originated from the Greek word 'phylon' meaning 'tribe' or 'race'. It was first used in the context of biological classification.

Evolution of the word: Originally used in biology to classify organisms into major groups based on shared characteristics, the term 'phylum' has since been adopted in other fields such as linguistics and anthropology to denote similar concepts of classification and grouping.