# Darwin

/ˈdɑɹwɪn/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/darwin
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. Charles Darwin

noun · CEFR B2

Charles Darwin was a famous British scientist who developed the theory of evolution.

For teachers: Refers to Charles Darwin (1809–1882), the British naturalist who formulated the theory of evolution by natural selection.

- In biology class, we learned how Darwin studied birds on the Galapagos Islands.
- The publication of Darwin's most famous work fundamentally altered the scientific community's understanding of biological development and natural selection.

### 2. city in Australia

noun · CEFR B2

The capital city of the Northern Territory in Australia.

For teachers: The capital city and largest settlement of the Northern Territory, Australia, located on the Timor Sea.

- It is very hot and humid in Darwin during the summer months.
- Darwin serves as a strategic gateway to Southeast Asia, boasting a diverse population and a unique tropical climate compared to southern Australian cities.

### 3. operating system

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

A type of computer software that helps run Apple's computers and phones.

For teachers: An open-source Unix operating system released by Apple, which forms the core components of macOS and iOS.

- The developer explained that the software runs on the Darwin kernel.
- While most users interact with the graphical interface of macOS, the underlying Darwin system handles the low-level tasks of the hardware.

### 4. unit of evolution

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

A scientific way to measure how fast a living thing changes over a long time.

For teachers: A unit of evolutionary change, defined as an e-fold change in a trait over one million years.

- The scientist used the term darwin to describe the speed of the bird's beak changing.
- The rate of morphological change in the fossil record was calculated to be approximately 0.1 darwins over the specified epoch.

## Examples

- He is a real Darwin when it comes to fixing computers.
- My brother is a total Darwin; he can figure out any complex puzzle in minutes.
- While he lacked formal training, his colleagues often referred to him as a Darwin for his uncanny ability to observe patterns in nature that others missed.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.