amaranth family: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Technical / Scientific / Botanical
Quick answer
What does “amaranth family” mean?
A large family (Amaranthaceae) of flowering plants, including amaranth, spinach, beet, and quinoa.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A large family (Amaranthaceae) of flowering plants, including amaranth, spinach, beet, and quinoa.
Often used as a common name for the Amaranthaceae family. In more figurative use, can refer to a group of diverse but related entities (e.g., plants, concepts, or organisations) that share a common origin or characteristics.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Both follow international botanical nomenclature.
Connotations
Neutral, scientific.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both varieties, confined to specialised discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “amaranth family” in a Sentence
[The/This] + amaranth family + [verb e.g., includes, contains, comprises] + [specific members].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “amaranth family” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The amaranth-family plants showed remarkable drought tolerance.
American English
- Amaranth-family crops are gaining popularity.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in botanical, agricultural, and nutritional science papers.
Everyday
Extremely rare, except among gardeners or in contexts discussing superfoods like quinoa.
Technical
The primary context. Used in taxonomy, plant identification, and horticulture.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “amaranth family”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “amaranth family”
- Using it as a countable noun without 'the' (e.g., 'An amaranth family' is incorrect). Confusing it with the unrelated 'amaryllis family'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In modern taxonomy (APG system), the Amaranthaceae family is considered to include the plants formerly classified as the Chenopodiaceae (goosefoot family). They are now effectively synonymous for most purposes.
Common edible members include spinach, Swiss chard, beetroot, quinoa, and amaranth grain itself.
It is highly specialised. In everyday talk, you would name the specific plant (e.g., 'spinach') rather than refer to its botanical family.
It's part of a hierarchical classification system (taxonomy). 'Family' is a rank above 'genus' and below 'order', grouping together genera that share a set of common characteristics.
A large family (Amaranthaceae) of flowering plants, including amaranth, spinach, beet, and quinoa.
Amaranth family is usually technical / scientific / botanical in register.
Amaranth family: in British English it is pronounced /ˈæm.ər.ænθ ˌfæm.əl.i/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈæm.ə.rænθ ˌfæm.li/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Amaranth' is the 'family name' for a clan of plants that includes the familiar 'spinach' and 'beet'.
Conceptual Metaphor
FAMILY AS A TAXONOMIC GROUP (A system of classification based on shared characteristics).
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'amaranth family' primarily used?