Definition of 'male'

COBUILD frequency band

male

(meɪl

)

Word forms: plural males

1. adjective B1

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 B2

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] B2

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 B2

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.

British English pronunciation

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American English pronunciation

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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

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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)

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male in American English

(meɪl )

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

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

: biological symbol: ♂

designating or of the complex set of social norms that is traditionally ascribed to people of this sex; belonging to the gender of boys and men

: cf. female

of, characteristic of, or suitable for members of this gender; 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, but 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: In medical, reproductive, and veterinary contexts, male is used for members of the sex that usually produces sperm; as an adjective used colloquially, it designates men and boys; masculine is applied to qualities thought by the speaker appropriate to men, as strength or vigor; manly suggests the noble qualities that the speaker associates with a man who has maturity of character, such as courage and independence; mannish, used chiefly of women, implies the possession or adoption of the traits and manners thought by the speaker to be more appropriate to a man; virile stresses qualities that are ascribed to a physically mature man, such as robustness, vigor, and, specif., sexual potency

Derived forms

ˈmaleness

noun

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Malé in American English

(ˈmɑleɪ )

chief island & capital of the Maldives

also: ˈMale (ˈmɑli )

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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)

SYNONYMS 1. See man1. 4–7. male, masculine, virile are adjectives that describe men and boys or attributes and conduct culturally ascribed to them. male, which is applied to plants and animals as well as to human beings, is a biological or physiological descriptor, classifying individuals on the basis of their potential or actual ability to inseminate in bisexual reproduction. It contrasts with female in all such uses: his oldest male relative; the male parts of the flower. masculine refers essentially to qualities, characteristics, or behaviors deemed by a culture or society to be especially appropriate to or ideally associated with men and boys. In American and Western European culture, these have traditionally included features such as strength, forthrightness, and courage: a firm, masculine handshake; a masculine impatience at indecision. virile implies a vigor and muscularity associated with mature manhood and often carries a suggestion of sexual or procreative potency: his virile good looks; a swaggering, virile walk. See also manly.ANTONYMS female.

Derived forms

maleness

noun

Word origin

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

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male- in American English

combining form

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

malediction

Compare mal-

Word origin

[‹ L; see mal-]

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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

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It slightly forces you to be an alpha male.Another male seen in the area had not been identified. Finally we came across a big male.It was here that the two male suspects confronted the victims.The birds get their name for the purple crown the males wear during the breeding season.Women on boards are just like their male counterparts.The team also found male dogs looked to owners for information less than female dogs.Now he is a trim, fit male model after shedding six stone.Not so long ago it was fashionable for extravagant whiskers to adorn all red-blooded males.He has had girlfriends and he's certainly a red-blooded male.

Word lists with
male

capital island

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