I. male 1 S3 W2 /meɪl/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: masle , male , from Latin masculus ; ⇨ ↑ masculine ]
1 . typical of or relating to men or boys OPP female ⇨ masculine :
a deep male voice
traditional male values
Motor-racing has largely been a male preserve (=something that only men have been involved with) .
2 . a male person or animal cannot have babies or lay eggs OPP female :
adult male bears
Many women earn less than their male colleagues.
3 . a male plant or flower cannot produce fruit OPP female
4 . technical a male ↑ plug has parts that stick out and that fit into a hole or ↑ socket OPP female
II. male 2 W3 BrE AmE noun [countable]
1 . a male animal OPP female :
The male is usually bigger and more brightly coloured than the female.
2 . a man OPP female :
Police described her attacker as a white male aged about 25.