Pronunciation: /ˈtɔːtənɪm/

Definitions of tautonym

noun a word that is repeated in a scientific name to indicate the genus and species are the same

Example Sentences

A1 A tautonym is a word that has the same word for its genus and specific epithet, like 'Gorilla gorilla'.

A2 In biology, a tautonym refers to a scientific name where the genus and species are identical.

B1 Tautonyms are commonly used in the naming of plants and animals to simplify classification.

B2 The use of tautonyms in taxonomy helps to clearly identify and categorize different species.

C1 Experts in the field of taxonomy are well-versed in the use of tautonyms in scientific nomenclature.

C2 The concept of tautonyms plays a crucial role in the accurate classification of organisms in the natural world.

Examples of tautonym in a Sentence

formal A tautonym is a scientific term used to describe a taxonomic name in which the genus and species names are identical.

informal I just learned about tautonyms in my biology class - it's when the scientific names are the same!

slang Tautonyms are like having a first name and last name that are exactly the same.

figurative Using a tautonym in writing can create a sense of symmetry and balance within the text.

Grammatical Forms of tautonym

past tense

tautonymed

plural

tautonyms

comparative

more tautonym

superlative

most tautonym

present tense

tautonym

future tense

will tautonym

perfect tense

have tautonymed

continuous tense

is tautonyming

singular

tautonym

positive degree

tautonym

infinitive

to tautonym

gerund

tautonyming

participle

tautonymed

Origin and Evolution of tautonym

First Known Use: 1835 year
Language of Origin: Greek
Story behind the word: The word 'tautonym' originated from the Greek language.
Evolution of the word: Originally used in biology to refer to a scientific naming convention, 'tautonym' has evolved to also be used in linguistics to describe words that repeat the same word for both the genus and specific epithet in binomial nomenclature.