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Definition

noun, plural: domains

(1) (taxonomy) The highest taxonomic rank of organisms in which there are three groupings: Archaea, Bacteria and Eukarya.

(2) (zoogeography) A major faunal area of the earth's surface.

(3) (anatomy) A place in or a division of the body or a part of the body, as abdominal region.

(4) (molecular biology) A part of a molecule or structure with common physico-chemical features or properties, as in polar domain, atp-binding domain, helical domain, etc.

(5) (general) A realm of knowledge, thought, responsibility, etc., as the domain of science.

Supplement

In biological taxonomy, a domain is the highest order of life classification, even higher than a Kingdom. Carl Woese introduced a three-domain system of classification in 1990 where organisms are divided into three domains: Archaea, Bacteria and Eukarya. Both the Domain Bacteria and Domain Archaea include prokaryotic organisms whereas the Domain Eukarya includes all eukaryotic organisms.

Word origin: French domaine, blend of Old French demaine (from Late Latin dominicum) and Latin dominium, property, both from dominus, lord

Synonym:

• superkingdom

Related terms:

• apple domain
• dinucleotide domain
• egf like domain
• exit domain
• paired box domain
• protein domain