US /meːl/ UK /meɪl/
Homophones
adj Freq #1628

Meanings

  1. 1
    adj

    Belonging to the sex that does not give birth or lay eggs; relating to men or boys.

    The male lion has a thick mane around its head.

  2. 2
    adj

    Typical of or suitable for men or boys.

    He sang the song in a deep male voice.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
2 adj · typical of or suitable for... manly
Opposites
Word family
Forms males
Related forms gendermachosex

Etymology

* As a Welsh surname, from the personal name Mael, from Middle Welsh mael (“prince”). * As an English surname of Norman origin, contaminated from many Old French sources, such as mail (“hammer”), maille (“chainmail”), maille (“denier”), or esmal (“enamel”). Compare Mailer. * Also as an English surname, from Middle English male (“bag, pouch”). * Also as an English surname of Norman origin, from the source of male (“male, male adult”). * Also as an English surname, from Middle English mele (“meal, flour”) (compare Millman) or from Old Norse melr (“sandhill”). Compare Meil. * As a Slovene surname…

View etymology graph ->

Topics

markdown

Send feedback

Optional — only if you'd like a reply.