unisexual

/'ju:ni'sekst/ Cách viết khác : (unisexual) /'ju:ni'seksjuəl/
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unisexual

A botanist examines a unisexual flower under a magnifying glass.

Definition
  1. Adjective:
    • Relating to or being of one sex only: Describes an organism, structure, or characteristic that is associated with a single sex (either male or female), not both.
    • Having reproductive organs of only one sex: Specifically refers to an individual organism that possesses either male or female reproductive organs, but not both; not hermaphroditic.
Usage and Examples
  • General Biological Context:
    • Most mammals are unisexual, meaning individuals are distinctly male or female.
    • The study focused on unisexual populations of the fish species.
  • Botanical Context:
    • A unisexual flower contains either stamens or pistils, but not both.
    • The plant is unisexual, so you need both a male and a female plant for pollination.
Advanced Usage
  • In Developmental Biology: Can describe processes or genes active in only one sex.
    • The gene expression is unisexual, occurring only in female embryos.
  • In Population Studies: Refers to groups consisting of only one sex.
    • The unisexual aggregation of males is common during the mating season.
Variants and Related Words
  • Unisex (Adjective): Designed for or suitable to both sexes. (Note: This is a distinct word often confused with 'unisexual'. 'Unisex' refers to things like clothing or facilities, not biological sex).
    • The salon offers unisex haircuts.
  • Bisexual (Adjective, Biology): Having both male and female reproductive organs in a single individual; hermaphroditic.
  • Dioecious (Adjective, Botany): Having male and female reproductive organs on separate individual plants.
Synonyms
  • Gonochoristic (Adjective, Biology): A technical synonym meaning having separate sexes.
  • Single-sex (Adjective): A more general term, often used for groups or institutions.
Antonyms
  • Hermaphroditic (Adjective): Having both male and female reproductive organs.
  • Bisexual (Adjective, Biology): Hermaphroditic.
  • Monoecious (Adjective, Botany): Having both male and female reproductive organs on the same plant.
unisexual

A botanist examines a unisexual flower under a magnifying glass.

Adjective
  1. relating to only one sex or having only one type of sexual organ; not hermaphroditic