phylogeny

UK /faɪˈlɒd͡ʒəni/ US /faɪˈlɑd͡ʒəni/

noun 4

Definitions

noun

The evolutionary history of groups of organisms, such as species or clades.

It was a bestiary more than a hundred years old, its entries organised by a quaintly outdated phylogeny and illustrated with hand-tinted plates.

A phylogenetic diagram.

Holonym: tree of life

The historical development of a human social or racial group.

Understanding the phylogeny of this musical group helps us understand its music.

The historical development of any thing, idea, etc.

Indeed, in a recent review article, Mithen (2009) traces the phylogeny of human communication […]

Collocations

ADJ.

musical

VERB + PHYLOGENY

outdated, recapitulates, understanding

PREP.

with

ADV.

quaintly

Thesaurus

Synonyms

noun — (biology) the sequence of events involved in the evolutionar

evolution
phylogenesis

Antonyms

Idioms & Phrases

ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny

The physical, cultural, moral, or intellectual development of each individual passes through stages similar to the developmental stages of that individual's species, society, or civilization. Not taken literally since the late 19th century.

With reference to seedling stages the statement that ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny must be made with great reserve.

Example Bank

It was a bestiary more than a hundred years old, its entries organised by a quaintly outdated phylogeny and illustrated with hand-tinted plates.

Wiktionary

Holonym: tree of life

Wiktionary

Understanding the phylogeny of this musical group helps us understand its music.

Wiktionary

Ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny.

Tatoeba · #328408

Usage Notes

i Register

In some senses, phylogeny is marked as informal. Watch for register when choosing this word.

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