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female

Pronunciation: /ˈfiːmeɪl/

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Definition of female

adjective

of or denoting the sex that can bear offspring or produce eggs, distinguished biologically by the production of gametes (ova) which can be fertilized by male gametes:a herd of female deer
relating to or characteristic of women or female animals:a female audience female names
(of a plant or flower) having a pistil but no stamens.
(of parts of machinery, fittings, etc.) manufactured hollow so that a corresponding male part can be inserted.

noun

a female person, animal, or plant.

Phrases

the female of the species: women or a woman:it was one of those subtle hints that the female of the species sometimes use

Derivatives

femaleness

Origin:

Middle English: from Old French femelle, from Latin femella, diminutive of femina 'a woman'. The change in the ending was due to association with male, but the words male and female are not linked etymologically

female in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of female in the US English dictionary

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Other

female

adjective

noun

Phrases

the female of the species

Derivatives

femaleness

Origin:

female in other Oxford dictionaries

Nearby words

More results for female

More words in this category

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