deme

[deem] /dim/
noun
1.
one of the administrative divisions of ancient Attica and of modern Greece.
2.
Biology. a local population of organisms of the same kind, especially one in which the genetic mix is similar throughout the group.
Origin
1620-30; < Greek dêmos a district, the people, commons
Related forms
demic
[dem-ik, dee-mik] /ˈdɛm ɪk, ˈdi mɪk/ (Show IPA), adjective
British Dictionary definitions for deme

deme

/diːm/
noun
1.
  1. (in preclassical Greece) the territory inhabited by a tribe
  2. (in ancient Attica) a geographical unit of local government
2.
(biology) a group of individuals within a species that possess particular characteristics of cytology, genetics, etc
Word Origin
C19: from Greek dēmos district in local government, the populace
deme in Science
deme
  (dēm)   
A small, locally interbreeding group of organisms within a larger population. Demes are isolated reproductively from other members of their species, although the isolation may only be partial and is not necessarily permanent. Because they share a somewhat restricted gene pool, members of a deme generally differ morphologically to some degree from members of other demes. See also population.