Binomial Nomenclature Definition

noun

The scientific system of giving a double name to each plant and animal, consisting of the name of the genus followed by that of the species (Ex.: Melanitta perspicillata, surf scoter)

Webster's New World

The scientific naming of species whereby each species receives a Latin or Latinized name of two parts, the first indicating the genus and the second being the specific epithet. For example, Juglans regia is the English walnut; Juglans nigra, the black walnut.

American Heritage Medicine

(biology, taxonomy) The scientific system of naming each species of organism with a Latinized name in two parts; the first is the genus, and is written with an initial capital letter; the second is some specific epithet that distinguishes the species within the genus. By convention, the whole name is typeset in italics. The genus part is often abbreviated to its initial letter e.g. H. sapiens for Homo sapiens.