viviparous

vi·vip·a·rous  (v-vpr-s, v-)

adj.

1. Zoology Giving birth to living offspring that develop within the mother's body. Most mammals and some other animals are viviparous.

2. Botany

a. Germinating or producing seeds that germinate before becoming detached from the parent plant, as in the mangrove.

b. Producing bulbils or new plants rather than seed, as in the tiger lily.

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[From Latin vviparus : vvus, alive; see g^wei- in Indo-European roots + -parus, -parous.]

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vivi·pari·ty (vv-pr-t, vv-) n.

vi·vipa·rous·ly adv.

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viviparous [viv-vip-a-russ]

Adjective

giving birth to living offspring, as most mammals do [Latin vivus alive + parere to bring forth]

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viviparous  (v-vpr-s)

Giving birth to living young that develop within the mother's body rather than hatching from eggs. All mammals except the monotremes are viviparous. Compare oviparousovoviviparous

Thesaurus

Adj.

1.

viviparous - producing living young (not eggs) live-bearing zoological science, zoology - the branch of biology that studies animals oviparous - egg-laying ovoviviparous - producing living young from eggs that hatch within the body