geotaxis

noun

geo·​tax·​is ˌjē-ō-ˈtak-səs How to pronounce geotaxis (audio)
: a taxis in which the force of gravity is the directive factor

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German Geotaxis, from geo- geo- + -taxis -taxis

Note: The term was introduced by the German botanist Frank Schwarz (1857-1928) in "Der Einfluss der Schwerkraft auf die Bewegungsrichtung von Chlamidomonas und Euglena," Berichte der Deutschen Botanischen Gesellschaft, vol. 2 (1884), pp. 51-72. Schwarz thus attempted to distinguish between geotropism and geotaxis: "Bezeichnet man allgemein die Auslösung von Bewegungs- und Wachsthumsvorgänge durch die Schwerkraft als Geotropismus, so könnte man wohl auch diese Erscheinung als eine geotropische bezeichnen. Um jedoch nicht Ungleichartiges mit demselben Namen zu belegen, schlage ich vor, analog wie man die Orientirung der Schwärmsporen durch das Licht mit Phototaxis bezeichnet, die von mir beschriebene Orientirung von Euglena und Chlamidomonas durch die Schwerkraft als Geotaxis zu bezeichnen. Ich glaube, dass hierdurch eine kurze und natürliche Benennung der in Frage stehenden Erscheinung gewonnen ist" (p. 71). ("If one characterizes the initiation of movement and growth processes by gravity in general as geotropism, then one could also say that this phenomenon is geotropic. However, in order to not impose the same name on something dissimilar, I suggest that the gravitational orientation of Euglena and Chladmidomonas I have described be called geotaxis, by analogy with the designation of zoospore orientation through light as phototaxis. I believe that hereby we acquire a brief and natural name for the phenomenon in question.")

First Known Use

1899, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of geotaxis was in 1899

Rhymes for geotaxis

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Cite this Entry

“Geotaxis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/geotaxis. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

geotaxis

noun
geo·​tax·​is ˌjē-ō-ˈtak-səs How to pronounce geotaxis (audio)
plural geotaxes
-ˈtak-sēz
: a taxis in which the force of gravity is the cause of the movement

Medical Definition

geotaxis

noun
geo·​tax·​is -ˈtak-səs How to pronounce geotaxis (audio)
plural geotaxes -ˌsēz How to pronounce geotaxis (audio)
: a taxis in which the force of gravity is the directive factor

More from Merriam-Webster on geotaxis

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about geotaxis

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