- male-
- a combining form meaning "evil," occurring in loanwords from Latin: malediction. Cf. mal-.
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–n.1. a man or boy; male human being. Males belong to the sex that, when mature, produce sperm.2. any animal of the same sex as a man or boy. A rooster is a male.3. a) a flower having a stamen or stamens but no pistils. b) a plant bearing only flowers with stamens.–adj.1. a) of or having to do with men or boys: »the male love of fighting.
b) composed or consisting of men or boys: »a male chorus.
2. of or belonging to the sex that can father young: »a male dog. Bucks, bulls, and roosters are all male animals.
3. Botany. a) (of seed plants) having flowers which contain stamens but not pistils; staminate. b) able to fertilize the female. The same plant may have both male and female flowers.4. designating the projecting part of a connection, machine, or the like, which fits inside a corresponding part: »a male plug.
5. of superior strength or vigor: »He is the most male of all these performers because he never weeps (Edmund Wilson).
–male´ness, noun.Synonym Study adjective.1, 2, 3 Male, masculine, manly mean having to do with men or the sex to which they belong. Male applies to plants, animals, or persons, and suggests only sex: »We have a male kitten.
Masculine applies to persons, things, or qualities, and suggests the characteristics (especially strength or vigor) more commonly associated with men and boys than women or girls: »She had a brisk, masculine stride.
Manly suggests admirable characteristics such as courage and honor more likely to be found in a mature man than in a boy: »The boy fought back with manly courage.
male-,* * *
male-, prefixsee mal-.
Useful english dictionary. 2012.
