male definition 
male (māl)
adjective
- designating or of the sex that fertilizes the ovum of the female and begets offspring: biological symbol, ♂
- of, characteristic of, or suitable for members of this sex; masculine; virile
- consisting of men or boys
- designating or having a part shaped to fit into a corresponding hollow part (called female): said of pipe fittings, electric plugs, etc.
- Bot.
- having stamens or antheridia and no carpels, archegonia, or oogonia
- designating or of a reproductive structure or part producing spermatozoids that can fertilize the female eggs
Origin: ME < OFr male, masle < L masculus < mas (gen. maris), a male, man
noun
- a male person; man or boy
- a male animal or plant
Related Forms:
- maleness male′·ness noun
male (māl)
adjective- a. Of, relating to, or designating the sex that has organs to produce spermatozoa for fertilizing ova.b. Characteristic of or appropriate to this sex; masculine.c. Consisting of members of this sex.
- Virile; manly.
- Botany a. Relating to or designating organs, such as anthers or antheridia, that produce gametes capable of fertilizing those produced by female organs.b. Bearing stamens but not pistils; staminate: male flowers.
- Designating an object, such as an electric plug, configured for insertion into a recessed part or socket.
- A member of the sex that begets young by fertilizing ova.
- A man or boy.
- Botany A plant having only staminate flowers.
Origin: Middle English, from Old French, from Latin masculus, diminutive of mās, male.
Related Forms:
- maleness maleˈness noun
Ma·le (mäˈlē)
Male
See also father; mankind; sex; women.
androcracy
the domination of society and politics by males. —androcratic, adj.
Biology. the condition of an embryo that contains only paternal chromosomes; male parthenogenesis. —androgenetic, adj.
andromania
in women, an obsession with men; nymphomania.
androphilia
a preference for males. —androphilic, adj.
1. an abnormal fear of men.
2. a hatred of males.
bachelorism
1. dedication to the state of being a bachelor.
2. behavior typical of a bachelor.
in women, an abnormal aversion to males.
1. a community in which the father or oldest male is the supreme authority, and descent is traced through the male line.
2. government by males, with one as supreme. —patriarchist, n. —patri-archic, patriarchical, adj.
a condition of some animals, and especially of some fowls, in which the female, when old, assumes some of the characteristics of the male of the species. —virilescent, adj.
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