1. The act of combining ( i.e., by joining, uniting, or otherwise bringing into close association) separate entities. 2. The state of being so combined.
- binary c. the name of a species of bacteria consisting of two parts: a generic name and a specific epithet.
- new c. the new name that results from the transfer of a microorganism from one genus to another; the generic name changes but, in most cases, the specific epithet remains the same.
Medical dictionary. 2011.