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Glite Dictionary
genus Cygnus

genus Cygnus

9.1
A group of large water birds that includes all true swans
  • noun
  • /ˈdʒɛnəs ˈsɪɡnəs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : género Cygnus
  • The genus Cygnus includes several species of swans found in various parts of the world.

Examples

  • Scientists classify the mute swan as part of the genus Cygnus.

  • Members of the genus Cygnus are often seen gliding gracefully across lakes.

  • The swan (genus Cygnus) is a symbol of striking beauty among birds.

    Fiction book (1990)

Synonyms

Cygnus
vsgenus Cygnus
  • Specialized
9.0

A group of large birds that are swans

is the taxonomic group that contains all swan species

Surface Forms

genus Cygnus singular
genera Cygnus plural

Morphology

genus + Cygnus

The phrase simply combines the noun 'genus' (a biological rank) with the proper name 'Cygnus' (the swan genus), so its meaning — the taxonomic genus called Cygnus that contains swans — is directly derivable from the constituents. Taxonomic naming is a regular, compositional pattern across languages, so a learner who knows both words will understand the MWE.

Etymology

The name genus Cygnus comes from old Latin and Greek words. The part Cygnus means 'swan' and genus means a 'group', so the name simply names the group of swans today.