genus Haliotis
- noun
- /ˈdʒɛnəs hɑːliˈoʊtɪs/
- Specialized
- The genus Haliotis includes several species of abalones.
Examples
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Many edible sea snails belong to the genus Haliotis, commonly known as abalones.
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Researchers discovered a new species within the genus Haliotis along the Pacific coast.
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The shell of the genus Haliotis is highly valued for its iridescent inner layer.
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Did you know that genus Haliotis is known for its unique shells?
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Many edible sea snails belong to the genus Haliotis, commonly known as abalones.
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Researchers discovered a new species within the genus Haliotis along the Pacific coast.
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The shell of the genus Haliotis is highly valued for its iridescent inner layer.
Synonyms
A group of sea snails called abalones that live on rocky coasts and have shiny inner shells
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is directly compositional: 'genus' (a biological rank) combined with 'Haliotis' (the name of a genus) yields the straightforward meaning 'the genus named Haliotis, comprising abalones.' Taxonomic naming is a regular, cross-linguistic convention, so a B1 learner who knows both constituent words can readily infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
Genus Haliotis comes from old Greek words meaning sea and ear, because abalone shells look like small ears on the rock. Scientists used that clear picture to name the whole group, so genus Haliotis means the group of abalone sea snails.