male

1. adjective

it's his male jealousy, which is nearly always unfounded

Syn:

masculine, virile, manly, macho; red-blooded

Ant:

female

2. noun

two males walked past

See man 1. 1)

••

male, manful, manly, mannish, masculine, virile

We speak of a male ancestor, a masculine scent, and a manly activity, but only of women as mannish. While all of these adjectives apply to what is characteristic of the male of the species (particularly the human species), male can refer to plants or animals as well as human beings and is used to describe whatever is biologically distinguished from the female sex (an all-male choir; a male cat; a male holly bush). Masculine refers to the qualities, characteristics, and behaviors associated with or thought to be appropriate to men and boys (a masculine handshake). Manly emphasizes the desirable qualities that a culture associates with a mature man, such as courage and independence (the manly virtues; the manly sport of football). Manful differs from manly primarily in its emphasis on sturdiness and resoluteness (a manful effort to hold back tears). Virile is a stronger word than masculine or manly and is applied only to mature men; it suggests the vigor, muscularity, and forcefulness — and especially the sexual potency — associated with mature manhood (a virile man who looked like Charlton Heston in his youth).