(Biology)a grouping of organisms having common characteristics distinct from those of other such groupings. The genus is a principal taxonomic category that ranks above species and below family, and is denoted by a capitalized Latin name, e.g. Leo (生)属 ■(in philosophical and general use) a class of things which have common characteristics and which can be divided into subordinate kinds 类;种类(哲学和一般用法,可再细分)