/ ˈdʒiːnəs; NAmE / noun
( pl. gen·era / ˈdʒenərə; NAmE /) ( biology ) a group into which animals, plants, etc. that have similar characteristics are divided, smaller than a family and larger than a species
—compare class , kingdom , order , phylum
—see also generic
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent.: from Latin , birth, race, stock .