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taxonomist

taxonomist

1 8.6
A scientist who puts living things into groups by their features
  • noun
  • /tækˈsɒnəmɪst/
  • Specialized
translation icon : taxónomo
  • Under ideal circumstances, amateur taxonomists can be mentored and associated with professional taxonomists, museums, or academic institutions.
  • professional taxonomists
  • amateur taxonomists
  • train new taxonomists

Examples

  • The worldwide decline in taxonomists has a broad impact on biology and society.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Although known to science since the eighteenth century, taxonomists long argued whether aye-ayes were squirrels or lemurs.

    Academic text (1993)
  • Still, by some measures, more taxonomists may be at work today rather than fewer.

    Academic text (2011)
  • In addition, taxonomists must engage a wide range of young people.

    Academic text (2011)
  • The numbers of new species being discovered may also reflect an increase in the numbers of taxonomists.

    Academic text (2011)
  • At the same time, many recent and new large-scale research efforts are underway that depend on taxonomists.

    Academic text (2011)
  • The compiled data were reviewed and refined online by a network of 413 taxonomists during 2009.

    Academic text (2012)
  • New evidence routinely obliges taxonomists to move species from one genus to another, or even to an entirely different order.

    Academic text (2006)
  • Large numbers of amphibian species still await description, and the task ahead for taxonomists is monumental and extremely urgent.

    Academic text (2010)
  • A group of taxonomists studied the unique features of various plant species during their expedition.

Synonyms

splitter
vstaxonomist
  • Jargon
1 9.1

A scientist who divides plants or animals into many small groups

groups organisms by broader recognized traits rather than minor differences
lumper
vstaxonomist
  • Jargon
1 9.9

A person who puts living things into broad groups ignoring small differences

separates organisms into more smaller groups based on small differences
taxonomer
vstaxonomist
  • Specialized
9.9

A scientist who groups living things like plants or animals by how they look and act

is the same meaning but is the common standard form
systematist
vstaxonomist
  • Specialized
9.8

A biologist who groups living things by their features and origin

focuses mainly on classifying by structure origin and behavior

How Experienced

taxonomist
  • Specialized
1 8.6
student
1.0
trainee
50 2.4

Surface Forms

taxonomist singular
taxonomists plural

Morphology

taxonomist = taxonomy (transparent) = taxon + nomy + ist

Formed by adding the agentive suffix '-ist' to 'taxonomy' to denote a person who practices classification; a straightforward, productive derivation.

Etymology

Taxonomist comes from Greek parts taxis 'arrangement' and -nomy 'system' (you see -nomy in astronomy), so a taxonomist is someone who arranges and names groups of living things and that is why they sort species and give them scientific names.