Definition of 'male'

Word Frequency

male

(meɪl )

Word forms: plural males

1. adjective

Someone who is male is a man or a boy.

It was the first new prison for adult male prisoners to be opened in Scotland for 60 years.

The London City Ballet has engaged two male dancers from the Bolshoi.

Most of the demonstrators were White and male.

maleness uncountable noun

...the small part of the Y chromosome which is responsible for maleness.

...the solidarity among men which is part of maleness.

2. countable noun

Men and boys are sometimes referred to as males when they are being considered as a type.

...the remains of a Caucasian male, aged 65-70.

A high proportion of crime is perpetrated by young males in their teens and twenties.

3. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]

Male means relating, belonging, or affecting men rather than women.

Women entered the workforce in greater numbers and male unemployment rose.

...a deep male voice.

Synonyms: masculine, manly, macho, virile More Synonyms of male

4. countable noun

You can refer to any creature that belongs to the sex that cannot lay eggs or have babies as a male.

Males and females take turns brooding the eggs.

Male is also an adjective.

After mating the male wasps tunnel through the sides of their nursery.

5. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]

A male flower or plant fertilizes the part that will become the fruit.

Video: pronunciation of
male

male in British English

(meɪl )

adjective

of, relating to, or designating the sex producing gametes ( spermatozoa) that can fertilize female gametes ( ova)

of, relating to, or characteristic of men or male animals

male names

for or composed of men or boys

a male choir

(of gametes) capable of fertilizing an egg cell in sexual reproduction

(of reproductive organs, such as a testis or stamen) capable of producing male gametes

(of flowers) bearing stamens but lacking a functional pistil

7. electronics, mechanical engineering

having a projecting part or parts that fit into a female counterpart

a male plug

noun

a male person, animal, or plant

Derived forms

maleness (ˈmaleness)

noun

Word origin

C14: via Old French from Latin masculus masculine

Word Frequency

Malé in British English

(ˈmɑːleɪ )

noun

the capital of the Republic of Maldives, on Malé Island in the centre of the island group. Pop: 90 000 (2005 est)

Word Frequency

Malé in American English

(ˈmɑleɪ )

chief island & capital of the Maldives: pop. 55,000

: also ˈMale (ˈmɑli )

Word Frequency

male in American English

(meɪl )

adjective

designating or of the sex that fertilizes the ovum of the female and begets offspring

biological symbol, ♂ see also female

of, characteristic of, or suitable for members of this sex; masculine; virile

consisting of men or boys

designating or having a part shaped to fit into a corresponding hollow part ( called female)

said of pipe fittings, electric plugs, etc.

5. Botany

having stamens or antheridia and no carpels, archegonia, or oogonia

designating or of a reproductive structure or part producing spermatozoids that can fertilize the female eggs

noun

a male person; man or boy

a male animal or plant

SYNONYMY NOTE: male is the basic term applied to members of the sex that is biologically distinguished from the female sex and is used of animals and plants as well as of human beings; , masculine is applied to qualities, such as strength and vigor, traditionally ascribed to men, or to things appropriate to men; , manly suggests the noble qualities, such as courage and independence, that a culture ideally associates with a man who has maturity of character; , mannish, used chiefly of women, is most often used derogatorily and implies the possession or adoption of the traits and manners thought to be more appropriate to a man; , virile stresses qualities such as robustness, vigor, and, specif., sexual potency, that belong to a physically mature man

Derived forms

maleness (ˈmaleness)

noun

Word origin

ME < OFr male, masle < L masculus < mas (gen. maris), a male, man

Word Frequency

male in American English

(meil)

noun

a person bearing an X and Y chromosome pair in the cell nuclei and normally having a penis, scrotum, and testicles, and developing hair on the face at adolescence; a boy or man

an organism of the sex or sexual phase that normally produces a sperm cell or male gamete

3. Botany

a staminate plant

adjective

of, pertaining to, or being a male animal or plant

pertaining to or characteristic of a male person; masculine

a male voice

composed of males

a male choir

7. Botany

designating or pertaining to a plant or its reproductive structure producing or containing microspores

b. (of seed plants)

staminate

8. Machinery

made to fit into a corresponding open or recessed part

a male plug

Compare female (sense 8)

Derived forms

maleness

noun

Word origin

[1300–50; ME ‹ MF ma(s)le ‹ L masculus; see masculine]

Word Frequency

male- in American English

combining form

a combining form meaning “ evil,” occurring in loanwords from Latin

malediction

Compare mal-

Word origin

[‹ L; see mal-]

Word Frequency

male in Mechanical Engineering

(meɪl)

adjective

(Mechanical engineering: General)

A male component has a projecting part that fits into a part on another component.

The (external) male thread on the pipe makes a connection with the mating female (internal) thread.

The coupling is threaded on the inside so only a male connection can be joined to it.

A male component has a projecting part that fits into a part on another component.

Examples of 'male' in a sentence
male

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…

This is despite the fact they perform better in these subjects than their male counterparts.What was the typical ratio of male to female captives?There is no doubt that our male counterparts also suffer.These include male couples and female couples with their arms linked to form a heart.They also show though that we are considerably fatter: the average male is almost a stone heavier.You lose your legs and you lose part of your identity, especially being a fit young male in a military environment.He has become England's alpha male.Most males now have a white neck ring, which shows that they come from introduced Chinese pheasant stock.Women on boards are just like their male counterparts.One sniff a day arouses the libido of the average male.

Word lists with
male

capital

Quick word challenge

Quiz Review

Question: 1

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Which capital city am I?

the capital of the republic of Singapore: a major international port; administratively not treated as a city

Berlin Singapore Tel Aviv

Which capital city am I?

the capital of Slovenia: capital of Illyria (1816–49); part of Yugoslavia (1918–91); university (1595). Pop: 265 881 (2002)

Belgrade Ljubljana Moscow

Which capital city am I?

the capital of Indonesia, in N West Java: founded in 1619 and ruled by the Dutch until 1945; the chief trading centre of the East in the 17th century; University of Indonesia (1947). Pop: 8 347 083 (2000)

Berlin Jakarta Moscow

Which capital city am I?

the capital of Niger, in the southwest, on the River Niger: became capital in 1926; airport and land route centre. Pop: 997 000 (2005 est)

Berlin Moscow Niamey

Which capital city am I?

capital of São Tomé and Príncipe, on this island: pop. 43,000

Berlin Moscow São Tomé

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