phyla
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phy·la
(fī′lə)n.
Plural of phylum.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
phyla
(ˈfaɪlə)n
(Linguistics) the plural of phylum
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
phy•lum
(ˈfaɪ ləm)n., pl. -la (-lə).
1. the primary subdivision of a taxonomic kingdom, grouping together all classes of organisms that have the same body plan.
2. a category consisting of language stocks that, because of cognates in vocabulary, are considered likely to be related by common origin.
[1875–80; < New Latin < Greek phŷlon group with common ancestry, tribe, akin to phyein to bring forth, produce, be]
phy′lar, adj.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.