n.
Pronunciation: ' wu ̇ -m ə n, esp Southern ' w ō - or ' w ə -
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural wom · en \ ' wi-m ə n \
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English w ī fman, from w ī f woman, wife + man human being, man
Date: before 12th century
1 a : an adult female person b : a woman belonging to a particular category (as by birth, residence, membership, or occupation) ― usually used in combination <council woman >
2 : WOMANKIND
3 : distinctively feminine nature : WOMANLINESS
4 : a woman who is a servant or personal attendant
5 a chiefly dialect : WIFE b : MISTRESS c : GIRLFRIEND 2
– woman adjective
– wom · an · less \ -l ə s \ adjective