noun
taxis
TAK-sihs
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.
Word Forms
taxes plural
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Moths show positive _____ toward light sources.
Etymology
A learned borrowing from Ancient Greek taxis, meaning "arrangement" or "order."