-taxis suffix. ['taksɪs] Pl. -taxes ['taksi:z].
[from TAXIS.]
Biology. Forming nouns with the senses (a) motion or orientation related to the direction of a stimulus, as chemotaxis, geotaxis, phototaxis; (b) arrangement or order, as phyllotaxis. Cf. -TAXY.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲

taxis noun. ['taksɪs] Pl. taxes [taksi:z]. L16.
[Greek = arrangement, from tassein arrange.]
1. Rhetoric. A figure of speech in which individual elements are systematically arranged. Only in L16.

2. Architecture. Arrangement of the elements of a building in due proportion; ordonnance. Only in E18.

3. Medicine. (An instance of) a surgical operation to reposition a displaced part by means of traction. Now rare or obsolete. M18.

4. Greek History. A company of soldiers, esp. foot-soldiers; a military division of varying size. M19.

5. Philology. Order or arrangement of words. rare. L19.

6. Biology. The motion or orientation of an organism or part of one, related to the direction of a stimulus. Cf. TROPISM. L19.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲