ˈfīləm noun
( plural phy·la -lə)
Etymology: New Latin, from Greek phylon tribe, race — more at phyl-
1.
a. : a direct line of descent within a group presumably from a single point of origin
the various evolutionary phyla to plants
b. : a group that constitutes or has the unity of such a phylum
whole phyla of resentments — W.H.Auden
a family of birds containing three phyla of subfamilial rank
2. : a major taxonomic unit comprising organisms sharing a fundamental pattern of organization and presumably a common descent:
a. : one of the usually primary divisions of the animal kingdom
the phylum Arthropoda
the phylum Chordata
— called also branch
b.
(1) : division
(2) : any of several major categories of plants ; especially : class
3. : a group of languages related more remotely than those of a family or stock