[tax.on.o.my] n [F taxonomie, fr. tax- + -nomie -nomy] (ca. 1828) 1: the study of the general principles of scientific classification: systematics
2: classification; esp: orderly classification of plants and animals according to their presumed natural relationships -- tax.o.nom.ic adj -- tax.o.nom.i.cal.ly adv -- tax.on.o.mist n