hermaphroditic
/hə:,mæfrə'ditik/
Definition
- Adjective:
- Having both male and female reproductive organs: This is the primary biological meaning. It describes an organism (animal or plant) that possesses the complete or partial reproductive structures of both sexes within a single individual.
- Relating to monoclinous plants: In botany, it specifically refers to flowers that contain both stamens (male parts) and pistils (female parts).
Examples of Usage
- Adjective:
- Earthworms are hermaphroditic animals. (This describes an animal possessing both male and female organs.)
- The botanist studied the hermaphroditic flower structure. (This describes a flower containing both male and female reproductive parts.)
- Some fish species are sequentially hermaphroditic, changing sex during their lifetime. (This uses the adjective to describe a specific biological process.)
Advanced Usage
- "Hermaphroditic condition": A formal term for the state of being hermaphroditic.
- The hermaphroditic condition is common in many invertebrate species.
- Used in technical, scientific, and biological contexts. It is not typically used in everyday conversation.
Variants and Related Words
- Hermaphrodite (noun): An organism that is hermaphroditic.
- The snail is a hermaphrodite.
- Hermaphroditism (noun): The state or condition of being a hermaphrodite.
- The biology textbook included a chapter on hermaphroditism.
- Monoclinous (adjective): A botanical synonym specifically for plants having hermaphroditic flowers.
- A monoclinous flower has both functional stamens and a pistil.
Synonyms
- Bisexual (in a strict biological/zoological context): Possessing both male and female reproductive organs.
- Monoclinous (specifically for plants): Having perfect flowers with both sexes.
- Intersex (in some medical/zoological contexts): A more modern term often used for individuals with variations in sex characteristics, which can overlap with but is not perfectly synonymous with hermaphroditic.
Notes on Meaning
- The term is primarily scientific. In older or non-scientific contexts, it can be considered outdated or imprecise when referring to humans; "intersex" is the preferred contemporary term in that context.
- It describes a physical, biological characteristic of an organism's reproductive system.
Adjective
-
of animal or plant; having both male female reproductive organs
-
of or relating to monoclinous plants
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