ef ‧ fem ‧ i ‧ nate /ɪˈfemənət, ɪˈfemɪnət/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: effeminatus , from femina 'woman' ]
a man who is effeminate looks or behaves like a woman
—effeminately adverb
—effeminacy noun [uncountable]
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THESAURUS
■ relating to women
▪ female relating to women or girls:
female voters
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Advertisers try to sell things by using images of the female body.
▪ feminine used about qualities that are considered to be typical of women:
You must not cry or show any other feminine weakness.
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the ideal of feminine beauty
▪ womanly behaving, dressing etc in a way that is thought to be typical of or suitable for a woman – used to show approval:
her womanly figure
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the womanly virtues of compassion and patience
▪ girly/girlie informal behaving or dressing in a way that is thought to be typical of young girls, or suitable for a girl – often used disapprovingly:
Stop being so girly! It's only a mouse!
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a very girlie pink dress
▪ effeminate disapproving a man who is effeminate looks or behaves like a woman:
His long blonde hair made him look rather effeminate.
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a pale effeminate-looking young man