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male

Pronunciation: /meɪl/

The English word “male” has 10 meanings listed here.

adjective

  1. Belonging to the sex which typically produces sperm, or to the gender which is typically associated with it.
  2. Characteristic of this sex/gender. (Compare masculine, manly.)
  3. Tending to lead to or regulate the development of sexual characteristics typical of this sex.
  4. Having the F factor; able to impart DNA into another bacterium which does not have the F factor (a female).
  5. Of instruments, tools, or connectors: designed to fit into or penetrate a female counterpart, as in a connector, pipe fitting or laboratory glassware.

noun

  1. A human member of the masculine sex or gender.
  2. An animal of the sex that has testes.
  3. A plant of the masculine sex.
  4. A bacterium which has the F factor.
  5. A male connector, pipe fitting, etc.

Etymology

From Middle English male, borrowed from Old French malle, masle (Modern French mâle), from Latin masculus (“masculine, a male”), diminutive of mās (“male, masculine”). Doublet of macho. Displaced native Old English wǣpned (“male”, literally “weaponed”).

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