phylum

A noun used in biology to denote a major taxonomic rank below kingdom and above class, grouping organisms with shared fundamental characteristics; also used in linguistics to refer to a large group of historically related languages.

• 🇫🇷Nom utilisé en biologie pour désigner le principal rang taxonomique situé sous le règne et au-dessus de la classe, regroupant des organismes partageant des caractéristiques fondamentales communes ; également utilisé en linguistique pour désigner une grande famille de langues historiquement apparentées.

1. Biological classification B2 formal

   A primary taxonomic rank in biology, ranking above class and below kingdom, grouping organisms with shared fundamental characteristics.

   • The phylum Chordata includes all vertebrates.
   • Mollusks belong to the phylum Mollusca.
   • Taxonomists classify insects under the phylum Arthropoda.

   🇫🇷Embranchement (taxinomie)

   Synonymes: division

2. Linguistic grouping C1 formal

   A large group of languages that are historically related, often considered the highest level of language classification.

   • The Indo-European phylum includes languages like English, Hindi, and Russian.
   • Linguists study the relationships within the Austronesian phylum.
   • The Afro-Asiatic phylum contains Semitic and Berber languages.

   🇫🇷Phylum (groupement linguistique)

   Synonymes: stocksuperfamily

• phyla plural form
• phyla's possessive plural form
• phylum's possessive singular form