# taxis

/ˈtæksiz/ (US)

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

## Senses

### 3. movement toward a stimulus

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

the way a tiny living thing moves toward or away from something like light or food.

For teachers: the directional movement of a motile organism in response to an external stimulus such as light or chemicals.

- The bacteria showed positive taxis by moving toward the sugar source.
- Phototaxis is a specific type of taxis where organisms move toward or away from a light source to optimize their survival.

Usage: Often combined with a prefix like 'photo-' or 'chemo-' to specify the stimulus.

### 4. fixing a bone or organ

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a medical way of pushing a bone or body part back into its right place.

For teachers: the manual restoration of a displaced body part, such as a hernia or a dislocated bone, to its normal position.

- The doctor performed a taxis to fix the patient's dislocated shoulder.
- Manual taxis was attempted to reduce the inguinal hernia before surgical intervention was considered necessary.

### 5. arrangement of parts

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal · Technical

the way parts of a speech or a building are organized.

For teachers: the orderly arrangement or classification of parts within a system, particularly in rhetoric or architecture.

- The architect focused on the taxis of the columns to create a balanced look.
- In classical rhetoric, taxis refers to the strategic arrangement of arguments to maximize the persuasive impact on the audience.

## Examples

- The bacteria show positive taxis toward the sugar source.

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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.