taxonomy
(tækˈsɒnəmɪ)
[ad. F. taxonomie (De Candolle 1813), irreg. f. Gr. τάξις arrangement, order (see taxis) + -νοµία distribution: see taxo- and -nomy. See also taxinomy.]
1. Classification, esp. in relation to its general laws or principles; that department of science, or of a particular science or subject, which consists in or relates to classification; esp. the systematic classification of living organisms.
| [1813 De Candolle Theor. Elem. de la Botanique.] 1828 in Webster. 1832 Encycl. Brit. (ed. 7) V. 70/2 Taxonomy is that branch of botany which has for its object the combination of all our observations on plants, so as to form a system or classification. 1839 G. Roberts Dict. Geol., Taxonomy, the classification or putting things in their proper order. 1852 Dana Crust. i. 59 The long posterior legs of certain Maioid species have been allowed to have the same value in Taxonomy. 1872 Coues N. Amer. Birds 49. |
2. (With
a and
pl.) A classification
of anything.
| 1960 Times Lit. Suppl. 29 Apr. 277/4 Professor Goldschmidt..has constructed what he calls a ‘taxonomy’ of human societies. 1971 Nature 10 Dec. 319/2 He complained of the taxonomy put forward by Sir Frederick Dainton's committee, with its concept of basic research, strategic research and technical research. 1972 Sci. Amer. Jan. 116/3 His taxonomy of bridge structures before the age of steel and concrete. 1979 Dictionaries I. 64 The prefatory notes to the volumes of the DAE offer taxonomies of American usages and Americanisms. 1983 Sci. Amer. Mar. 102/2 We can outline a taxonomy of chlorite oscillators, and we are beginning to see how they can be related to oscillators of the bromate and iodate families. |
So
taˈxonomer, a scientific classifier;
taˈxonomist = taxonomer. (See also
taxinomic,
taxinomist,
s.v. taxinomy.)
| 1885 Athenæum 1 Aug. 146/2 It is now generally admitted by *taxonomers that their affinities are..close. 1897 Naturalist 94 One instance wherein the author differs from most recent taxonomers. |
| 1877 Huxley Anat. Inv. Anim. xii. 656 The views of *Taxonomists..are undergoing..incessant modifications. 1904 Athenæum 6 Aug. 175/3 Then the pendulum swung in the opposite direction:..field botanists were placed on a level with postage-stamp collectors, taxonomists were looked on as laborious triflers. |