taxonomy

[tak-son-uh-mee] /tækˈsɒn ə mi/
noun, plural taxonomies.
1.
the science or technique of classification.
2.
a classification into ordered categories:
a proposed taxonomy of educational objectives.
3.
Biology. the science dealing with the description, identification, naming, and classification of organisms.
Origin
1805-15; French taxonomie. See taxo-, -nomy
Related forms
taxonomic
[tak-suh-nom-ik] /ˌtæk səˈnɒm ɪk/ (Show IPA), taxonomical, adjective
taxonomically, adverb
taxonomist, taxonomer, noun
nontaxonomic, adjective
nontaxonomical, adjective
nontaxonomically, adverb
Examples from the web for taxonomy
  • The taxonomy and phylogeny favoured by these authors is depicted in the adjacent diagram.
  • It isn't a bad emblem for the broader changes transforming the science of taxonomy.
  • The management decision deals with far more than taxonomy.
  • But it is possible to attempt a euphemistic taxonomy.
  • The ethnic terminology used in the medical literature can be rather ill-suited to the task of biological taxonomy.
  • Consider the flowing taxonomy of medical innovations.
  • The taxonomy of the cycadophyta is, however, now stabilizing.
  • The taxonomy of the large whiteheaded gulls is particularly complicated.
  • The history of hominoid taxonomy is somewhat confusing and complex.
  • Evolutionary taxonomy insists that groups reflect phylogenies.
British Dictionary definitions for taxonomy

taxonomy

/tækˈsɒnəmɪ/
noun
1.
  1. the branch of biology concerned with the classification of organisms into groups based on similarities of structure, origin, etc
  2. the practice of arranging organisms in this way
2.
the science or practice of classification
Derived Forms
taxonomic (ˌtæksəˈnɒmɪk), taxonomical, adjective
taxonomically, adverb
taxonomist, taxonomer, noun
Word Origin
C19: from French taxonomie, from Greek taxis order + -nomy
Word Origin and History for taxonomy
n.

1828, from French taxonomie (1813), introduced by Linnæus and coined irregularly from Greek taxis "arrangement" (see taxidermy) + -nomia "method," from -nomos "managing," from nemein "manage" (see numismatics).

taxonomy in Medicine

taxonomy tax·on·o·my (tāk-sŏn'ə-mē)
n.

  1. The classification of organisms in an ordered system that indicates natural relationships.

  2. The science, laws, or principles of classification; systematics.

taxonomy in Science
taxonomy
  (tāk-sŏn'ə-mē)   

The scientific classification of organisms into specially named groups based either on shared characteristics or on evolutionary relationships as inferred from the fossil record or established by genetic analysis.
taxonomy in Culture
taxonomy [(tak-son-uh-mee)]

The classification of living things. (See Linnean classification.)