female

fe·male  (fml)

adj.

1.

a. Of or denoting the sex that produces ova or bears young.

b. Characteristic of or appropriate to this sex; feminine.

c. Consisting of members of this sex. See Usage Note at lady.

2. Botany

a. Designating an organ, such as a pistil or ovary, that functions in producing seeds after fertilization.

b. Bearing pistils but not stamens; pistillate: female flowers.

3. Having a recessed part, such as a slot or receptacle, designed to receive a complementary male part: the female section of an electrical outlet.

n.

1. A member of the sex that produces ova or bears young.

2. A woman or girl.

3. Botany A plant having only pistillate flowers.

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[Middle English, alteration (influenced by male, male) of femelle, from Old French, from Latin fmella, diminutive of fmina, woman; see dh(i)- in Indo-European roots.]

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femaleness n.

Synonyms: female, feminine, womanlike, womanly, womanish, effeminate, ladylike
These adjectives mean of or characteristic of women. Female categorizes any living thing by gender or sex: the female population; a female kitten; a female plant.
Feminine refers to what is considered characteristic of women: feminine intuition.
Womanlike applies to qualities of a woman: womanlike resolve.
Womanly describes qualities regarded as becoming to a woman: womanly sympathy.
Womanish suggests qualities associated with or suggestive of women: womanish attitudes.
Effeminate applies to men who exhibit attributes traditionally associated with women: an effeminate actor.
Ladylike applies to what is regarded as befitting refined or well-mannered women: ladylike manners.

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female

Adjective

1. of the sex producing offspring

2. of or characteristic of a woman

3. (of reproductive organs such as the ovary and carpel) capable of producing reproductive cells ([gametes]) that are female

4. (of flowers) not having parts in which pollen is produced ([stamens])

5. (of a mechanical component) having an opening into which a projecting male component can be fitted

Noun

a female person, animal, or plant [Latin femina a woman]

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female  (fml)

Adjective

1. In organisms that reproduce sexually, being the gamete that is larger and less motile than the other corresponding gamete (the male gamete) of the same species. The egg cells of higher animals and plants are female gametes.

2. Possessing or being a structure that produces only female gametes. The ovaries of humans are female reproductive organs. Female flowers possess only carpels and no stamens.

3. Having the genitalia or other structures typical of a female organism. Worker ants are female but sterile.

Noun

A female organism.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	female - an animal that produces gametes (ova) that can be fertilized by male gametes (spermatozoa) animal, animate being, beast, creature, fauna, brute - a living organism characterized by voluntary movement hen - female of certain aquatic animals e.g. octopus or lobster dam - female parent of an animal especially domestic livestock female mammal - animals that nourish their young with milk filly - a young female horse under the age of four male - an animal that produces gametes (spermatozoa) that can fertilize female gametes (ova)
	2.	female - a person who belongs to the sex that can have babies female person individual, mortal, person, somebody, someone, soul - a human being; "there was too much for one person to do" female body - the body of a female human being female offspring - a child who is female female child, little girl, girl - a youthful female person; "the baby was a girl"; "the girls were just learning to ride a tricycle" foster sister, foster-sister - your foster sister is a female who is not a daughter of your parents but who is raised by your parents girl wonder - an extremely talented young female person adult female, woman - an adult female person (as opposed to a man); "the woman kept house while the man hunted" woman - a female person who plays a significant role (wife or mistress or girlfriend) in the life of a particular man; "he was faithful to his woman" male person, male - a person who belongs to the sex that cannot have babies
Adj.	1.	female - 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" biological science, biology - the science that studies living organisms feminine - associated with women and not with men; "feminine intuition" androgynous - having both male and female characteristics male - being the sex (of plant or animal) that produces gametes (spermatozoa) that perform the fertilizing function in generation; "a male infant"; "a male holly tree"
	2.	female - characteristic of or peculiar to a woman; "female sensitiveness"; "female suffrage" distaff feminine - associated with women and not with men; "feminine intuition"
	3.	female - for or pertaining to or composed of women or girls; "the female lead in the play"; "a female chorus" female - 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"

Translations

female [ˈfiːmeɪl] n (= woman) → mujer f;

(ZOOL) → hembra

adj → femenino

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female [ˈfiːmeɪl] n (Zool) → femelle f;

(pej) (= woman); bonne femme

adj (Biol), (Elec) → femelle; [sex, character] → féminin(e); [vote etc] → des femmes; [child etc] → du sexe féminin;

male and female students → étudiants et étudiantes

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female [ˈfiːmeɪl] n → Weibchen nt;

(pej) (woman) → Frau f, Weib nt (pej)

adj → weiblich;

(vote etc) → Frauen-;

(Elec) (connector, plug) → Mutter-, Innen-;

male and female students → Studenten und Studentinnen

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female [ˈfiːmeɪl] n (ZOOL) → femmina;

(pej) (= woman); donna, femmina

adj → femminile;

(BIOL, ELEC) → femmina inv;

male and female students → studenti e studentesse