fe·male
(fē′māl′)adj.
1.
a. Of or denoting the sex that produces ova or bears young.
b. Characteristic of or appropriate to this sex in humans and other animals: female hormones; female fashions.
c. Consisting of members of this sex. See Usage Note at lady.
2. Of or denoting the gamete that is larger and less motile than the other corresponding gamete. Used of anisogamous organisms.
3. 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.
4. Designed to receive or fit around a complementary male part, as a slot or receptacle: the female end of an extension cord.
n.
1. A female organism.
2. A woman or girl.
[Middle English, alteration (influenced by male, male) of femelle, from Old French, from Latin fēmella, diminutive of fēmina, woman; see dhē(i)- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]
fe′male′ness n.
Usage Note: Perhaps because the use of female to modify a noun for a professional, as in female doctor, can seem derogatory if it seems to imply that professionals are male by default, some writers use woman or women as modifiers when identifying the sex of the referent is necessary. Despite this tendency, in our 2016 survey, overwhelming majorities of the Usage Panel (97 percent) found the use of both female and male to be acceptable in the sentences This book is written by a ______ author and This anthology features ______ authors. In contrast, the Panelists overwhelmingly rejected man author (92 percent), man authors (96 percent), and men authors (81 percent). Woman authors was a bit less unpopular (it was rejected by 74 percent of the panel), but it was rejected largely because of the clash between the singular modifier and plural noun, not because woman was being used as a modifier. The Panel was more favorable toward woman author, which was accepted by 43 percent of Panelists, and women authors, which was accepted by 64 percent, the only phrase among the batch surveyed that received a majority acceptance.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
female
(ˈfiːmeɪl)adj
1. (Zoology) of, relating to, or designating the sex producing gametes (ova) that can be fertilized by male gametes (spermatozoa)
2. of, relating to, or characteristic of a woman: female charm.
3. for or composed of women or girls: female suffrage; a female choir.
4. (Biology) (of reproductive organs such as the ovary and carpel) capable of producing female gametes
5. (Biology) (of gametes such as the ovum) capable of being fertilized by a male gamete in sexual reproduction
6. (Botany) (of flowers) lacking, or having nonfunctional, stamens
7. (Mechanical Engineering) having an internal cavity into which a projecting male counterpart can be fitted: a female thread.
n
a. a female animal or plant
b. derogatory a woman or girl
[C14: from earlier femelle (influenced by male), from Latin fēmella a young woman, from fēmina a woman]
ˈfemaleness n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
fe•male
(ˈfi meɪl)n.
1. a person of the sex whose cell nuclei contain two Xchromosomes and who is normally able to conceive and bear young; a girl or woman.
2. any organism of the sex or sexual phase that normally produces egg cells.
3. a plant having a pistil or pistils.
adj. 4. of, pertaining to, or being a female: female organs; a female mammal.
5. of, pertaining to, or characteristic of a girl or woman; feminine: female wisdom.
6. composed of females: a female readership.
7.
a. designating or pertaining to a plant or the reproductive structure of a plant that produces or contains elements capable of being fertilized.
b. (of seed plants) pistillate.
8. being or having a recessed part into which a corresponding part fits: a female plug. Compare male (def. 8).
[1275–1325; Middle English, variant (by association with male) of femelle < Anglo-French, Old French femel(l)e < Latin fēmella, diminutive of fēmina woman (see -elle)]
fe′male•ness, n.
syn: female, feminine, effeminate describe women and girls or whatever is culturally attributed to them. female classifies individuals on the basis of their genetic makeup or their ability to produce offspring in sexual reproduction. It contrasts with male in all uses: her oldest female relative; the female parts of the flower. feminine refers to qualities and behavior deemed especially appropriate to or ideally associated with women and girls. In American and Western European culture, these have traditionally included such features as charm, gentleness, and patience: to dance with feminine grace; a feminine sensitivity to moods. feminine is sometimes used of physical features too: small, feminine hands. effeminate is most often applied derogatorily to men or boys, suggesting that they have traits culturally regarded as appropriate to women and girls rather than to men: an effeminate speaking style. See also woman, womanly.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
fe·male
(fē′māl′)Adjective
1. Zoology
a. Relating to a female reproductive cell (an egg or ovum).
b. Being the sex that gives birth or produces offspring.
2. Botany
a. Being a reproductive structure, especially a pistil or ovary, that produces a seed or seeds after fertilization.
b. Bearing a pistil or pistils but not stamens: female flowers.
Noun
A female organism.
The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
female
– feminine1. 'female'
Female means 'relating to the sex that can have babies'. You can use female as an adjective to talk about either people or animals.
There has been a rise in the number of female employees.
A female toad may lay 20,000 eggs each season.
You can also use female as a noun to talk about animals.
The male fertilizes the female's eggs.
He saw a family of lions – a big male, a beautiful female, and two cubs.
In scientific contexts, female is sometimes used as a noun to refer to women or girls.
The condition affects both males and females.
People sometimes use female to talk about young women, in order to avoid using 'woman' or 'girl'.
He asked if a white female of a certain age had checked into the hotel.
2. 'feminine'
Feminine means 'typical of women, rather than men'.
The bedroom has a light, feminine look.
She is a calm, reasonable and deeply feminine woman.
Don't use 'feminine' to talk about animals.
Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
| 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 babiesindividual, 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" 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" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
female
noun
adjective
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
female
adjectiveThe American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
إناثأُنْثىمُؤَنَّثمُنْتِج للحُبوب
женскаженски
ženaženskýsamicesamičísamičí rostlina
kvindekvindelighun-hunplante
inaino
naispuolinennainen
ženkaženski
bibésnőstény
betinaperempuanwanita
kvendÿr; konakvenkynsblóm
女性女性の
암형여성여성의
femina
moteriškasis augalaspatelė
mātītesieviešu-sievietesievišķais
samičísamičia rastlina
samicasamičji
kvinnakvinnlig
เกี่ยวกับสตรีเพศหญิง
nữphụ nữ
female
[ˈfiːmeɪl]A. ADJ
2. [population] → femenino; [vote] → de las mujeres; [slave, subject] → del sexo femenino
a female friend → una amiga
female labour → trabajo m femenino or de mujeres
the female sex → el sexo femenino
a female student → una estudiante
female suffrage → derecho m de las mujeres a votar
a female voice → una voz de mujer
a female friend → una amiga
female labour → trabajo m femenino or de mujeres
the female sex → el sexo femenino
a female student → una estudiante
female suffrage → derecho m de las mujeres a votar
a female voice → una voz de mujer
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
female
[ˈfiːmeɪl]Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
female
adj
n
(= animal) → Weibchen nt
female
:female impersonator
n → Damen-Imitator m
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
female
[ˈfiːmeɪl]1. adj (animal, plant) (Elec) → femmina inv; (subject, member, worker) → di sesso femminile; (company, vote) → di donne; (sex, quality, character) → femminile
female labour → manodopera femminile
female student/worker → studentessa/operaia
male and female students → studenti e studentesse
female labour → manodopera femminile
female student/worker → studentessa/operaia
male and female students → studenti e studentesse
2. n (animal, woman) (pej) → femmina
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
female
(ˈfiːmeil) noun, adjective1. (a person, animal etc) of the sex that gives birth to children, produces eggs etc. a female blackbird; the female of the species.
2. (a plant) that produces seeds.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
female
→ مُؤَنَّث žena, ženský kvinde, kvindelig Frau, weiblich γυναίκα, θηλυκός femenino, hembra nainen, naispuolinen féminin ženka, ženski femmina, femminile 女性, 女性の 여성, 여성의 vrouw, vrouwelijk kvinne, kvinnelig kobieta, żeński fêmea, feminino женский, особь женского пола kvinna, kvinnlig เกี่ยวกับสตรี, เพศหญิง kadın nữ, phụ nữ 女性, 女性的Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
fe·male
n. hembra;
a. femenino-a, rel. a la mujer;
___ catheter → catéter para mujer;
___ circumcision → circuncisión de la mujer;
___ pseudohermaphrotidism → pseudohermafrotidismo femenino.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
Collins Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
female
adj femenino; n mujer f, niña, chicaEnglish-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.