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taxing
taxiplane
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taxis
taxiway
taxo-
Taxol
taxon
taxonomy
taxpayer
taxpayer identification number
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Tay-Sachs disease
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taxonomy

tax·on·o·my [ tak sónnəmee ] (plural tax·on·o·mies)


noun 
Definition:
 
1. grouping of organisms: the science of classifying plants, animals, and microorganisms into increasingly broader categories based on shared features. Traditionally, organisms were grouped by physical resemblances, but in recent times other criteria such as genetic matching have also been used.

2. principles of classification: the practice or principles of classification

3. study of classification: the study of the rules and practice of classifying living organisms

[Early 19th century. < French taxonomie< Greek taxis (see taxis)]

tax·o·nom·ic [ tàksə nómmik ] adjective
tax·o·nom·i·cal·ly [ tàksə nómmikəlee ] adverb
tax·on·o·mist [ tak sónnəmist ] noun
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