noun
Uncommon
taxis
TAK-sihs
Taxis (noun) means the movement of an organism toward or away from a stimulus, such as light or chemicals. Example: “Moths show positive taxis toward light sources.”
noun
1
The movement of an organism toward or away from a stimulus, such as light or chemicals.
"Moths show positive taxis toward light sources."
2
(medicine) The manual manipulation of a displaced body part back into its normal position.
"The doctor used gentle taxis to reduce the dislocated shoulder."
How to use taxis
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA biological movement response to a stimulus, or (in medicine) manually resetting a dislocated body part. Not to be confused with the plural of "taxi."
Common mistake
This is a distinct word from the plural of "taxi" (also spelled "taxis") — context makes clear which is meant.
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Word forms
- Plural
- taxes
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Moths show positive _____ toward light sources.
Etymology
A learned borrowing from Ancient Greek taxis, meaning "arrangement" or "order."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for taxis
See all rhymes for taxis →Frequently asked questions
What does “taxis” mean?
The word “taxis” means the movement of an organism toward or away from a stimulus, such as light or chemicals. In plain terms, a biological movement response to a stimulus, or (in medicine) manually resetting a dislocated body part. Not to be confused with the plural of "taxi.".
How do you pronounce “taxis”?
“Taxis” is pronounced TAK-sihs (/ˈtæksɪs/ in IPA).
How do you use “taxis” in a sentence?
Here is “taxis” used in a sentence: “Moths show positive taxis toward light sources.”
What part of speech is “taxis”?
“Taxis” is a noun.
Where does the word “taxis” come from?
The word “taxis” comes from Ancient Greek. A learned borrowing from Ancient Greek taxis, meaning "arrangement" or "order.".
Is “taxis” a common word?
“Taxis” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “taxis” have?
“Taxis” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the movement of an organism toward or away from a stimulus, such as light or chemicals.
