adj.
- of or denoting the sex that can bear offspring or produce eggs.
▸relating to or characteristic of women or female animals.
▸(of a plant or flower) having a pistil but no stamens.
- (of a fitting) manufactured hollow so that a corresponding male part can be inserted.
n.
a female person, animal, or plant.
Derivative
Etymology
ME: from OFr. femelle, from L. femella, dimin. of femina ‘a woman’; the change in the ending was due to assoc. with male.
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