superfamily

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su·per·fam·i·ly

S0896100 (so͞o′pər-făm′ə-lē)n. pl. su·per·fam·i·lies A taxonomic category of related organisms ranking below an order or its subdivisions and above a family.

superfamily

(ˈsuːpəˌfæmɪlɪ) n, pl -lies1. (Biology) biology a taxonomic group that is a subdivision of a suborder2. any analogous group, such as a group of related languages

su•per•fam•i•ly

(ˈsu pərˌfæm ə li, -ˌfæm li)

n., pl. -lies. Biol. a category of related families within an order or suborder. [1870–75]

Thesaurus

Noun

superfamily - (biology) a taxonomic group ranking below an order but above a familybiological science, biology - the science that studies living organismstaxon, taxonomic category, taxonomic group - animal or plant group having natural relations

Superfamily

a taxonomic category used in the more thoroughly studied classes of animals to combine phylogenetically similar families within an order. In Latin, superfamilies are indicated by attaching the suffix “-oidea” to the name of the oldest family of the group. Thus, the superfamily Feloidea comprises the families Viverridae, Hyaenidae, and Felidae.

superfamily

[soo´per-fam″ĭ-le] 1. a taxonomic category sometimes established, subordinate to an order and superior to a family.2. any of a group of proteins having similarities such as areas of structural homology and believed to descend from the same ancestral gene, such as the superfamily of immunoglobulins.

superfamily

(so͞o′pər-făm′ə-lē)n. pl. superfami·lies A taxonomic category of related organisms ranking below an order or its subdivisions and above a family.

superfamily

a taxon above a family and below an order.

superfamily

su·per·fam·i·ly

superfamily

su•per•fam•i•ly

Superfamily

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Words related to superfamily

noun (biology) a taxonomic group ranking below an order but above a family

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