Femaleness

[fee-meyl] /ˈfi meɪl/

noun
1.
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.
2.
an organism of the sex or sexual phase that normally produces egg cells.
3.
Botany. a pistillate plant.
adjective
4.
of, relating to, or being a female animal or plant.
5.
of, relating to, or characteristic of a female person; feminine:
female suffrage; female charm.
6.
composed of females:
a female readership.
7.
Botany.

8.
Machinery. being or having a recessed part into which a corresponding part fits:
a female plug.
Compare (def 5).
/ˈfiːmeɪl/
adjective
1.
of, relating to, or designating the sex producing gametes (ova) that can be fertilized by male gametes (spermatozoa)
2.
of, relating to, or characteristic of a woman: female charm
3.
for or composed of women or girls: female suffrage, a female choir
4.
(of reproductive organs such as the ovary and carpel) capable of producing female gametes
5.
(of gametes such as the ovum) capable of being fertilized by a male gamete in sexual reproduction
6.
(of flowers) lacking, or having nonfunctional, stamens
7.
having an internal cavity into which a projecting male counterpart can be fitted: a female thread
noun
8.

n.

1889, from female + -ness.
n.

early 14c., from Old French femelle (12c.) “woman, female,” from Medieval Latin femella “a female,” from Latin femella “young female, girl,” diminutive of femina “woman” (see feminine).

Sense extended in Vulgar Latin from humans to female of other animals. Spelling altered late 14c. on mistaken parallel of male. As an adjective, from early 14c. Reference to sockets, etc., is from 1660s.

female fe·male (fē’māl’)
adj.
Of, relating to, or denoting the sex that produces ova or bears young. n.

female
(fē’māl’)
Adjective

Noun A female organism.