Definition of FEMALE

female

Meanings

Plural: females

Noun

  • an animal that produces gametes (ova) that can be fertilized by male gametes (spermatozoa)
  • a person who belongs to the sex that can have babies
  • One of the female (feminine) sex or gender.
  • A human of the feminine sex.
  • One of the female (feminine) sex or gender.
  • An animal of the sex that produces eggs.
  • One of the female (feminine) sex or gender.
  • A plant which produces only that kind of reproductive organ capable of developing into fruit after impregnation or fertilization; a pistillate plant.
  • A bacterium which lacks the F factor, and is able to receive DNA from another bacterium which has that factor.
  • A female connector, pipe fitting, etc.

Adjective

  • being the sex (of plant or animal) that produces fertilizable gametes (ova) from which offspring develop
    • "a female heir"
    • "female holly trees bear the berries"

Adjective Satellite

  • characteristic of or peculiar to a woman
    • "female sensitiveness"
    • "female suffrage"
  • for or pertaining to or composed of women or girls
    • "the female lead in the play"
    • "a female chorus"

Adj

  • Belonging to the sex which typically produces eggs (ova), or to the gender which is typically associated with it.
  • Characteristic of this sex/gender. (Compare feminine, womanly.)
  • Tending to lead to or regulate the development of sexual characteristics typical of this sex.
  • Feminine; of the feminine grammatical gender.
  • Lacking the F factor, and able to receive DNA from another bacterium which does have this factor (a male).
  • Having an internal socket, as in a connector or pipe fitting.

Origin / Etymology

Etymology tree
Proto-Italic *fēmanā
Latin fēmina
Proto-Indo-European *-lós
Proto-Italic *-elos
Latin -lus
Latin -la
Latin fēmella
Latin fēminader.
Old French femelebor.
Middle English femele
Middle English female
English female
From Middle English female, an alteration of Middle English femele, from Old French femele, femelle (“female”), from Medieval Latin fēmella (“a female”), from Latin fēmella (“a girl, a young female, a young woman”), diminutive of fēmina (“a woman”). The English spelling and pronunciation were remodelled under the influence of male, which is otherwise not etymologically related. Contrast woman, which is etymologically built on man (as in, “person”).

Synonyms

distaff, female, female person, feminine, menstruator, socket, vagina owner, vagina-owner, womanly

Antonyms

androgynous, male

Scrabble Score: 11

female is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
female is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
female is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 13

female is a valid Words With Friends word