male

[meyl] /meɪl/
noun
1.
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.
2.
an organism of the sex or sexual phase that normally produces a sperm cell or male gamete.
3.
Botany. a staminate plant.
adjective
4.
of, pertaining to, or being a male animal or plant.
5.
pertaining to or characteristic of a male person; masculine:
a male voice.
6.
composed of males:
a male choir.
7.
Botany.
  1. designating or pertaining to a plant or its reproductive structure producing or containing microspores.
  2. (of seed plants) staminate.
8.
Machinery. made to fit into a corresponding open or recessed part:
a male plug.
Compare female (def 8).
Origin
1300-50; Middle English < Middle French ma(s)le < Latin masculus. See masculine
Related forms
maleness, noun
antimale, noun, adjective
intermale, adjective
supermale, noun
Can be confused
mail, male.
male, masculine, macho (see synonym study at the current entry)
Synonyms
1. See man. 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.

Male

[mah-ley, -lee] /ˈmɑ leɪ, -li/
noun
1.
a city in and the capital of the Maldives.

male-

1.
a combining form meaning “evil,” occurring in loanwords from Latin:
malediction.
Compare mal-.
Origin
< Latin; see mal-

Maldives

[mawl-deevz, mal-dahyvz] /ˈmɔl divz, ˈmæl daɪvz/
noun
1.
a republic in the Indian Ocean, SW of India, consisting of about 2000 islands: British protectorate 1887–1965. 115 sq. mi. (298 sq. km).
Capital: Male.
Also called Maldive Islands.
Related forms
Maldivian
[mawl-div-ee-uh n, mal‐] /mɔlˈdɪv i ən, mæl‐/ (Show IPA), adjective, noun
Examples from the web for male
  • The society lacks stereotypically male problems such as war, but is stagnant.
  • If she lays an unfertilized egg it will develop into a male drone.
  • At this point, the male line ended as there were no more male descendants.
  • male mallards will also occasionally chase other males in the same way.
  • The male fox terrier is tame but it will also respond to your commands.
  • Experimental study of parental investment and polygyny in male blackbirds.
  • Duck a short, blonde, freckly male surfer who wears leather.
  • On her death it was discovered that her body was anatomically male.
  • Some male hormones are produced in small amounts by the adrenal glands.
  • A male pelican who delivers letters around the animal village.
British Dictionary definitions for male

male

/meɪl/
adjective
1.
of, relating to, or designating the sex producing gametes (spermatozoa) that can fertilize female gametes (ova)
2.
of, relating to, or characteristic of a man; masculine
3.
for or composed of men or boys: a male choir
4.
(of gametes) capable of fertilizing an egg cell in sexual reproduction
5.
(of reproductive organs, such as a testis or stamen) capable of producing male gametes
6.
(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
8.
a male person, animal, or plant
Derived Forms
maleness, noun
Word Origin
C14: via Old French from Latin masculusmasculine

Maldives

/ˈmɔːlˈdiːvz/
plural noun
1.
Republic of Maldives, a republic occupying an archipelago of 1087 coral islands in the Indian Ocean, southwest of Sri Lanka: came under British protection in 1887; became independent in 1965 and a republic in 1968; a member of the Commonwealth. The economy and infrastructure were severely damaged in the Indian Ocean tsunami of December 2004. Official language: Divehi. Official religion: (Sunni) Muslim. Currency: rufiyaa. Capital: Malé. Pop: 393 988 (2013 est). Area: 298 sq km (115 sq miles) Also known as the Maldive Islands

Malé

/ˈmɑːleɪ/
noun
1.
the capital of the Republic of Maldives, on Malé Island in the centre of the island group. Pop: 90 000 (2005 est)
Word Origin and History for male
n.

late 14c., "male human being; male fish or land animal," from Old French masle (adj.) "masculine, male, adult," also used as a noun (12c., Modern French mâle), from Latin masculus "masculine, male, worthy of a man" (cf. Provençal mascle, Spanish macho, Italian maschio), diminutive of mas (genitive maris) "male person or animal, male."

adj.

late 14c., from Old French male, masle "male, masculine; a male" (see male (n.)). Mechanical sense of "part of an instrument that penetrates another part" is from 1660s.

Maldives

probably from Sanskrit maladvipa "garland of islands," from mala "garland" + dvipa "island." Related: Maldivian.

male in Medicine

male (māl)
adj.
Of, relating to, or designating the sex that has organs to produce spermatozoa for fertilizing ova. n.

  1. A member of the sex that begets young by fertilizing ova.

  2. A man or boy.

male in Science
male
  (māl)   
Adjective  

  1. In organisms that reproduce sexually, being the gamete that is smaller and more motile than the other corresponding gamete of the same species (the female gamete). The sperm cells of higher animals and plants are male gametes.

  2. Possessing or being a structure that produces only male gametes. The testicles of humans are male reproductive organs. Male flowers possess only stamens and no carpels.


Noun  A male organism.