Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Having qualities or appearance traditionally associated with men: Used to describe characteristics, behaviors, or styles considered typical of or appropriate for men.
   • (Grammar) Belonging to a class of grammatical gender: In some languages, a category of nouns, pronouns, or adjectives that is often, but not exclusively, associated with male beings.
   • (Music or Poetry) Ending on an accented beat or syllable: Describing a cadence or rhyme where the stress falls on the final syllable.

2. Noun:

   • (Grammar) The masculine gender: The grammatical gender category that refers chiefly, but not exclusively, to males or to objects classified as male.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • He has a very masculine voice. (His voice has a deep, low pitch typical of men.)
  • In French, the word "livre" (book) is masculine. (The noun "livre" belongs to the masculine grammatical class.)
  • The poet used a masculine rhyme in the final couplet. (The rhyme ended with a stressed syllable, like "annoy" and "enjoy".)

• Noun:

  • In German, the article "der" often marks a noun as being in the masculine. (The word "der" indicates the masculine grammatical gender.)

Advanced Usage

• "Masculine ending" (Poetry/Prosody): A line of verse that ends on a stressed syllable.
  • The sonnet's line had a powerful masculine ending.
• "Masculine cadence" (Music): A chord progression that concludes on a strong, accented beat.
  • The piece concluded with a definitive masculine cadence.

Variants and Related Words

• Masculinity (n): The quality or condition of being masculine.
  • Traditional concepts of masculinity are evolving.
• Masculinize (v): To make something more masculine in character.
  • Some cultures have rituals to masculinize young men.

Synonyms

• Manly: Having qualities traditionally associated with men (e.g., strength, courage).
• Virile: Having strength, energy, and a potent masculine character.

Antonyms

• Feminine: Having qualities or appearance traditionally associated with women.
• Neuter: (In grammar) Belonging to a gender class that is neither masculine nor feminine.

Related Phrases

• "Toxic masculinity": A cultural concept referring to certain traditional, narrow, and potentially harmful norms of masculine behavior.
  • The documentary explored the societal impacts of toxic masculinity.
• "Masculine rhyme": In poetry, a rhyme between single stressed syllables (e.g., "blow" / "flow").
  • The poet preferred the strong sound of a masculine rhyme.

Adjective

1. (music or poetry) ending on an accented beat or syllable
   • a masculine cadence
   • the masculine rhyme of `annoy, enjoy'
2. associated with men and not with women
3. of grammatical gender

Noun

1. a gender that refers chiefly (but not exclusively) to males or to objects classified as male