Subfamily

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• subfamily — [sub′fam΄ə lē, sub′fam΄lē] n. pl. subfamilies 1. any main natural subdivision of a family of plants or animals 2. a major division of a language family, above a branch [the Balto Slavic subfamily of Indo European languages] …   English World dictionary

• subfamily — 1) a category of the family group subordinate to family 2) an individual taxon of the category subfamily , e.g. Salmoninae. The recommended ending is inae …   Dictionary of ichthyology

• subfamily — noun Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary Date: 1833 1. a category in biological classification ranking below a family and above a genus 2. a subgroup of languages within a language family …   New Collegiate Dictionary

• subfamily — n. [L. sub, under; familia, family] A category of the family group containing related tribes or genera, and ending in inae …   Dictionary of invertebrate zoology

• subfamily — /sub fam euh lee, fam lee, sub fam euh lee, fam lee/, n., pl. subfamilies. 1. Biol. a category of related genera within a family. 2. Ling. (in the classification of related languages within a family) a category of a higher order than a branch. Cf …   Universalium

• subfamily — noun A taxonomic category ranking between a family and a genus; formerly called a tribe …   Wiktionary

• subfamily — In biologic classification, a division between family and tribe or between family and genus. * * * sub·fam·i·ly səb .fam (ə )lē n a category in biological classification ranking below a family and above a genus * * * sub·fam·i·ly… …   Medical dictionary

• subfamily — n. subdivision of a family (Biology) …   English contemporary dictionary

• subfamily — noun (plural subfamilies) a subdivision of a group. ↘Biology a taxonomic category that ranks below family and above tribe or genus …   English new terms dictionary

• subfamily — sub·family …   English syllables