1. plural of ordo; taxonomic categories or ranks in biological classification
Usage: scientific; biology
2. plural of ordo; orders or ranks in ancient Roman society
Usage: historical; ancient Rome

Examples

• The biologist studied various ordines within the class of mammals.
• Different ordines of insects show remarkable diversity in their characteristics.
• The Roman ordines included senators, equites, and plebeians.
• Social mobility between ordines was limited in ancient Rome.
• Taxonomists classify species into families, ordines, and classes.
• The ordines system helped maintain Roman social hierarchy.