a person bearing two X chromosomes in the cell nuclei and normally having a vagina, a uterus and ovaries, and developing at puberty a relatively rounded body and enlarged breasts, and retaining a beardless face; a girl or woman.
an organism of the sex or sexual phase that normally produces egg cells.
Botany. a pistillate plant.
adjective
of, relating to, or being a female animal or plant.
of, relating to, or characteristic of a female person; feminine: female suffrage; female charm.
composed of females: a female readership.
Botany.
designating or pertaining to a plant or its reproductive structure that produces or contains elements requiring fertilization.
(of seed plants) pistillate.
Machinery. being or having a recessed part into which a corresponding part fits: a female plug.Compare male (def. 5).
Origin of female
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English, variant (by association with male) of femelle, from Anglo-French female, femaile, femell, Old French femel(l)e, from Latin fēmella, diminutive of fēmina “woman” (see -elle); in Vulgar Latin developing the sense “female of an animal”
synonym study for female
1. See woman. 4-7. Female,feminine,effeminate are adjectives that describe women and girls or attributes and conduct culturally ascribed to them. Female, 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 produce offspring in bisexual reproduction. It contrasts with male in all uses: her oldest female relative; the female parts of the flower.Feminine refers essentially to qualities or behaviors deemed by a culture or society to be especially appropriate to or ideally associated with women and girls. In American and Western European culture, these have traditionally included features such as delicacy, gentleness, gracefulness, and patience: to dance with feminine grace; a feminine sensitivity to moods.Feminine is also, less frequently, used to refer to physical features: a lovely feminine figure; small, feminine hands.Effeminate is most often applied derogatorily to men or boys, suggesting that they have character or behavior traits culturally believed to be appropriate to women and girls rather than to men: an effeminate horror of rough play; an effeminate speaking style. See also womanly.
Conversely, the same shelter may not, on the basis of sex, decline to accommodate a person who identifies as male but who is a biological female.
How the Trump administration is getting around Bostock to allow anti-trans discrimination|Chris Johnson|September 16, 2020|Washington Blade
Rakefet Russak-Aminoach was one of the sector’s rare female CEOs until June 2019 when she stepped down as CEO of Bank Leumi, Israel’s largest bank by market cap.
Why one of the world’s few female bank CEOs decided to step down|Claire Zillman, reporter|September 16, 2020|Fortune
When a pregnant female mouse smells an unfamiliar male mouse, her body terminates the pregnancy, and she becomes able to conceive with the new male relatively quickly.
The Dark Side of Smart - Facts So Romantic|Diana Fleischman|September 15, 2020|Nautilus
Last year, I wrote about why Wall Street’s big banks had never had a female CEO.
New Citi CEO Jane Fraser gives Wall Street banks a fresh perspective|Claire Zillman, reporter|September 11, 2020|Fortune
The studio, the lone major studio headed by a woman in Donna Langley, also led in female directors, writers and producers, as well as lead roles from underrepresented groups.
Despite some gains in the past year, Hollywood still has inclusion problems, study says|radmarya|September 10, 2020|Fortune
While 19 percent of the House is female, just one woman will get to chair one of its 20 committees.
The Unbearable Whiteness of Congress|Dean Obeidallah|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
“Jeffrey wanted me to tell you that you looked so pretty,” the female voice said into my disbelieving ear.
I Tried to Warn You About Sleazy Billionaire Jeffrey Epstein in 2003|Vicky Ward|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
An escort who goes by the name of “Tommy” has experienced a wide variety of female clients.
Career-Minded Women Turn to Male Escorts For No-Strings Fun and (Maybe) Sex|Aurora Snow|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Are the standards for female beauty in Hollywood ridiculous?
Renée Zellweger Got a New Face—and Everyone Had An Opinion About It|Kevin O’Keeffe|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A male and female who do most of the mating dominate packs, and younger subordinates only breed occasionally.
Mongooses, Meerkats, and Ants, Oh My! Why Some Animals Keep Mating All in the Family|Helen Thompson|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This boat, which floats upon the surface of the water until the larv are disclosed, is placed there by the female gnat.
An Introduction to Entomology: Vol. III (of 4)|William Kirby
Mantuamakers and milliners came, in their turn, to fit out the female members of the family.
Peter Parley's Own Story|Samuel G. Goodrich
He knew the power of constant attention, and the display of ardent passion, to win the female heart.
Tales And Novels, Volume 7 (of 10)|Maria Edgeworth
In this state the female is still well clothed, and little or no difference can be seen in the plumage unless examined.
Audubon and his Journals, Volume I (of 2)|Maria R. Audubon
In early manhood he presented a contrast to his companions because he felt no attraction to the female sex.
History of the Jews, Vol. V (of 6)|Heinrich Graetz
British Dictionary definitions for female
female
/ (ˈfiːmeɪl) /
adjective
of, relating to, or designating the sex producing gametes (ova) that can be fertilized by male gametes (spermatozoa)
of, relating to, or characteristic of a womanfemale charm
for or composed of women or girlsfemale suffrage; a female choir
(of reproductive organs such as the ovary and carpel) capable of producing female gametes
(of gametes such as the ovum) capable of being fertilized by a male gamete in sexual reproduction
(of flowers) lacking, or having nonfunctional, stamens
having an internal cavity into which a projecting male counterpart can be fitteda female thread
noun
a female animal or plant
derogatorya woman or girl
Derived forms of female
femaleness, noun
Word Origin for female
C14: from earlier femelle (influenced by male), from Latin fēmella a young woman, from fēmina a woman
In organisms that reproduce sexually, being the gamete that is larger and less motile than the other corresponding gamete (the male gamete) of the same species. The egg cells of higher animals and plants are female gametes.
Possessing or being a structure that produces only female gametes. The ovaries of humans are female reproductive organs. Female flowers possess only carpels and no stamens.
Having the genitalia or other structures typical of a female organism. Worker ants are female but sterile.