macho

[mah-choh] /ˈmɑ tʃoʊ/
adjective
1.
having or characterized by qualities considered manly, especially when manifested in an assertive, self-conscious, or dominating way.
2.
having a strong or exaggerated sense of power or the right to dominate.
noun, plural machos.
3.
Also, machoism. assertive or aggressive manliness; machismo.
4.
an assertively virile, dominating, or domineering male.
Origin
1925-30, Americanism < Spanish: literally, male < Latin masculus; see masculine
Related forms
antimacho, adjective
supermacho, noun, plural supermachos.
unmacho, adjective
Can be confused
male, masculine, macho (see synonym study at male)
Examples from the web for macho
  • Prove what a big macho jerkoff you are by wiping out every other living thing.
  • Both are macho, sporty and prone to authoritarian instincts.
  • Also of little use are some more macho notions doing the rounds.
  • These may be difficult for boys who come from macho backgrounds.
  • He was a new kind of musical star, not macho and aggressive, but soft to the eye and maybe to the touch.
  • Forget about hapless mates being dragged around by macho mammoth killers.
  • The macho adores femaleness and wants to dominate what he adores.
  • Frank's brand of celebrity as a macho self-help guru is seen as symptomatic of the film's time and place.
  • And he does have his macho moments, famously challenging his soldiers to push-up contests.
British Dictionary definitions for macho

macho

/ˈmætʃəʊ/
adjective
1.
denoting or exhibiting pride in characteristics believed to be typically masculine, such as physical strength, sexual appetite, etc
noun (pl) machos
2.
a man who displays such characteristics
Word Origin
C20: from Spanish: male; see machismo
Word Origin and History for macho

1928 (n.) "tough guy," from Spanish macho "male animal," noun use of adjective meaning "masculine, virile," from Latin masculus (see masculine). As an adjective, first attested in English 1959.

macho in Science
MACHO
  (mä'chō)   
Short for massive astrophysical compact halo object.Any of various massive dark objects, such as a brown dwarf star, black hole, or large planet, found in a galactic halo. MACHOs are thought to make up at least a part of the dark matter that apparently pervades much of the universe.
macho in Culture
macho [(mah-choh)]

The often exaggerated, aggressive virility of a male: “Jim likes to wear a torn T-shirt and a black leather jacket when he rides his motorcycle. I guess he thinks it makes him look macho.” The original Spanish word means “male.”

Slang definitions & phrases for macho

macho

adjective

: a typical macho Mailerism/ list of macho jobs as long as a master sergeant's sleeve of hash marks

noun
  1. An aggressively masculine man; he-man
  2. Aggressive maleness; machismo: It was not just a question of executive macho

[1970s+; fr Spanish]


Related Abbreviations for macho

MACHO

massive astrophysical compact halo object