adj. & n.
adj. 1 of the sex that can bear offspring or produce eggs. 2 (of plants or their parts) fruit-bearing; having a pistil and no stamens. 3 of or consisting of women or female animals or female plants. 4 (of a screw, socket, etc.) manufactured hollow to receive a corresponding inserted part.
n. a female person, animal, or plant. female impersonator a male performer impersonating a woman. femaleness n.
[ ME f. OF femelle (n.) f. L femella dimin. of femina a woman, assim. to male ]