female
/ˈfiːmeɪl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈfiːmeɪl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈfē-ˌmāl/ (ame, mw) · /ˈfiː.meɪl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈfiː.meɪl/ (ame, ipa)
female — adjective
- femalepositive
- femalercomparative
- femalestsuperlative
1. describing people, qualities, or things that are connected with women or girls r
describing people, qualities, or things that are connected with women or girls rather than with men or boys.
The scholarship programme at this university supports female students from rural areas.
collocation: female students
Female athletes at the national level still face unfair pay in many countries.
Antonia was the only female officer in the police station when the robbery was reported.
Female passengers were asked to board the flight before the other travellers.
文法句型
female + noun
be + female
用法筆記
In modern English, 'female' as an adjective is used descriptively for people. 'Feminine' is preferred when talking about social or cultural qualities traditionally linked to women.
常見錯誤
2. of the kind in animals and humans that makes eggs and brings forth offspring, as
of the kind in animals and humans that makes eggs and brings forth offspring, as opposed to the kind that makes sperm.
The female cat gave birth to four healthy kittens in the basket behind the sofa.
female + animal noun for sex distinction
Female mosquitoes are the ones that bite humans and feed on their blood.
In many bird species the female stays in the nest while the male hunts.
The female whale can swim thousands of miles each year to reach warmer waters.
- male
the sex that produces sperm, not eggs
文法句型
female + noun
be + female
用法筆記
This sense overlaps with sense 1 when applied to humans. Use sense 1 for social or demographic contexts and sense 2 when emphasising biological or reproductive functions.
常見錯誤
3. describing a plant whose flowers develop into fruit or seeds once they have rece
describing a plant whose flowers develop into fruit or seeds once they have received pollen.
A pumpkin plant's female flower must receive pollen from a male flower to grow fruit.
female flower — botanical term for fruit-producing flower
Farmers plant male and female papaya trees close together so that fruit can develop.
The gardener checked whether the female blossoms on the cucumber vines had been pollinated.
In corn plants the ear is the female part that holds the kernels after pollination.
- pistillate
technical botanical term for flowers that have a pistil but no stamens
- fruit-bearing
describes the function rather than the biological sex
- male
plant or flower that produces pollen, not fruit
文法句型
female + plant/flower/part
用法筆記
Used mainly in botany, gardening, and agriculture. The opposite is 'male', which refers to the pollen-producing parts of a plant.
4. describing a component of a tool or device that contains an empty space designed
describing a component of a tool or device that contains an empty space designed to connect with another piece that fits into it.
The plumber replaced the female pipe end which had cracked around the connecting joint.
female end — mechanical part with internal hole
This electrical extension cord has a female connector designed to fit a three-pin plug.
Takeshi put the male part into the female opening and tightened the screw.
The female socket on the wall accepts the charger plug for the electric car.
- male
describes the protruding part designed to fit into the female part
文法句型
female + connector/socket/end/part
用法筆記
Common in plumbing, electronics, and hardware contexts. The opposite is 'male', which refers to the part that sticks out and fits into the female opening.
常見錯誤
female — noun
- femalesingular
- femalesplural
1. an animal belonging to the sex that can give birth to young or produce eggs.
an animal belonging to the sex that can give birth to young or produce eggs.
The female of this species can lay up to two hundred eggs each season.
the female of [species] — referring to the female animal
In elephants the oldest female leads the group and decides where the herd travels.
Among birds of prey the female is usually larger than the male.
Vikram watched a female feed its newborn calf in the first few minutes after birth.
Among lions, the female does most of the hunting while the male protects the territory.
- she
informal, used as a noun only for animals whose sex is known ('Is the puppy a he or a she?')
- male
animal of the opposite sex
文法句型
the female
a female
females
用法筆記
Scientific and nature-writing contexts use 'female' freely for animals. In everyday speech, speakers often use the specific animal name instead ('the lioness', 'the hen').
2. an adult or child of the female sex, used especially in official or research con
an adult or child of the female sex, used especially in official or research contexts.
The survey found that females in the region earn about twenty percent less than males.
statistical use: females as demographic category
The hospital provides free health checks for females over the age of fifty.
Sophia argues that females should have the same career opportunities as males.
In some parts of the world females are still denied the right to attend school.
The study compared reading habits of males and females between twelve and eighteen years old.
文法句型
females
males and females
female + noun modifier
用法筆記
As a noun for people, 'female' can sound clinical or impersonal. In everyday conversation, 'woman' or 'girl' is the more natural choice unless you need a neutral, scientific, or statistical term.