Darwin

[ dahr-win ]

noun

1. Charles (Robert), 1809–82, English naturalist and author.
2. his grandfather Erasmus, 1731–1802, English naturalist and poet.
3. a seaport in and the capital of Northern Territory, in N Australia.

Darwin

¹

/ ˈdɑːwɪn /

noun

1. DarwinCharles (Robert)18091882MEnglishSCIENCE: naturalist Charles ( Robert ). 1809–82, English naturalist who formulated the theory of evolution by natural selection, expounded in On the Origin of Species (1859) and applied to man in The Descent of Man (1871)
2. DarwinErasmus17311802MEnglishMEDICINE: physicianWRITING: poet his grandfather, Erasmus. 1731–1802, English physician and poet; author of Zoonomia, or the Laws of Organic Life (1794–96), anticipating Lamarck's views on evolution
3. DarwinSir George Howard18451912MEnglishSCIENCE: astronomerSCIENCE: mathematician Sir George Howard , son of Charles Darwin. 1845–1912, English astronomer and mathematician noted for his work on tidal friction

Darwin

²

/ ˈdɑːwɪn /

noun

1. a port in N Australia, capital of the Northern Territory: destroyed by a cyclone in 1974 but rebuilt on the same site. Pop: 71 347 (2001) Former name (1869–1911)Palmerston

Darwin

/ där′wĭn /

1. British naturalist who proposed the theory of evolution based on natural selection (1858). Darwin's theory, that random variation of traits within an individual species can lead to the development of new species, revolutionized the study of biology.

Other Words From

• anti-Darwin adjective
• pro-Darwin adjective

Biography

The flora and fauna of the Galápagos Archipelago, a group of islands 650 miles west of Ecuador in the Pacific Ocean, provided the inspiration for Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, which outlined his theory of evolution. Although Darwin spent some time studying medicine and later prepared for the clergy, graduating in 1828 from Christ's College, Cambridge, he couldn't deny his interest in geology and natural history. He spent five years (1831–36) as a naturalist aboard the HMS Beagle on an exploration of South America and Australia. In September 1835 the Beagle reached the Galápagos Archipelago. “This archipelago,” Darwin wrote, “seems to be a little world within itself, the greater number of its inhabitants, both vegetable and animal, being found nowhere else.” Darwin observed 26 species of birds, only one of which was known to exist anywhere else, as well as giant tortoises and other unusual reptiles. Each species, he observed, was uniquely adapted to the particular island on which it lived. Upon his return to England, Darwin refined his notes and continued to make scientific observations, this time of his own garden and of the animals kept by his family. In 1859, after 23 years of sustained work, he published On the Origin of Species, in which he argued that traits such as size and color vary from species to species and that individual variations of these traits are passed down from parents to offspring. More progeny are produced than there is available sustenance. Variations that contribute more successfully to attracting a mate and reproducing are passed down to more offspring, eventually influencing the entire species. Through this process of natural selection, the highly complex species of today gradually evolved from earlier, simpler organisms.

Example Sentences

In the mid-1800s, famed naturalist Charles Darwin wrote that "the lower animals, like man, manifestly feel pleasure and pain, happiness and misery."

From Science Daily

The owner of two Indian restaurants in Darwin, he's had five or six break-ins this past year and wants politicians to take more action.

From BBC

The same goes for Darwin Nunez, whose clever cut-back found Mohamed Salah charging into the area, and for the Egyptian too - not just with his run, but the composure he showed with his finish.

From BBC

The leveller he swept home from Darwin Nunez’s pass was his eighth goal of the season to go with seven assists.

From BBC

The agency announced this month that it found salmonella in five samples of raw dog food made by Darwin’s Natural Pet Products, manufactured by Arrow Reliance.

From Salon