realm

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a knowledge domain that you are interested in or are communicating about

   it was a limited realm of discourse

2. 2
   noun

   A territory or state, as ruled by an absolute authority, especially by a king; a kingdom.

   And, of this island realm, he and his companion were the undisputed sovereigns.

3. 3
   noun

   A sphere of knowledge or of influence; a domain.

   the realm of physics

4. 4
   noun

   the domain ruled by a king or queen

5. 5
   noun

   a domain in which something is dominant

6. 6
   noun

   A primary zoogeographical division of the earth's surface.

7. 7
   noun

   A taxonomic rank in the phylogeny of viruses, higher than kingdoms.

8. 8
   noun

   A region or zone forming part of a cosmological system.

Etymology

From Middle English rewme, realme, reaume, from Old French reaume, realme, reialme (“kingdom”), of unclear origins. A postulated *rēgālimen (“domain, kingdom”), Late Latin or Vulgar Latin cross of regimen with rēgālis is usually cited. The modern spelling predominates from around 1600. The modern pronunciation with /l/ is either a spelling pronunciation or influenced by the etymology.