What is "colymbiformes"

Colymbiformes \Colymbiformes\ n. 1. an order of birds, including the family Podicipedidae, which consitutes the grebes.

Syn: Podicipitiformes, order Podicipitiformes, Podicipediformes, order Podicipediformes, order Colymbiformes.

Colymbiformes is a disused order of birds that was once used to classify grebes and loons. Scientific study has revealed that these two types of waterbirds are not so closely related; they have been reclassified in the orders Podicipediformes and Gaviiformes, respectively.