maleness

male  (ml)

adj.

1.

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.

2. Virile; manly.

3. 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.

4. Designating an object, such as an electric plug, configured for insertion into a recessed part or socket.

n.

1. A member of the sex that begets young by fertilizing ova.

2. A man or boy.

3. Botany A plant having only staminate flowers.

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[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin masculus, diminutive of ms, male.]

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maleness n.

Synonyms: male, masculine, manlike, manly, manful, virile, mannish
These adjectives mean of, relating to, or characteristic of men. Male categorizes any living thing by gender or sex: the male population; a male puppy; a male plant.
Masculine refers to what is considered characteristic of men: a masculine voice.
Manlike applies to qualities of a man (manlike fortitude) or resemblance to a human (manlike apes). Manly describes qualities regarded as becoming to a man: manly strength.
Manful suggests bravery and resoluteness: a manful display of chivalry.
Virile stresses the vigor, power, or sexual potency of an adult male: "The virile figure of Theodore Roosevelt swung down the national highway" Edward Bok.
Mannish usually applies to women or their traits, clothing, or actions when they seem masculine: a mannish suit.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

maleness - the properties characteristic of the male sex masculinity sexuality, gender, sex - the properties that distinguish organisms on the basis of their reproductive roles; "she didn't want to know the sex of the foetus" virility - the masculine property of being capable of copulation and procreation femaleness, feminineness - the properties characteristic of the female sex