dioecious
|di-o-e-cious|
C1
🇺🇸
/daɪˈiːʃəs/
🇬🇧
/daɪˈiːsɪəs/
separate male and female individuals
Etymology
Etymology Information
'dioecious' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'dioikēs', where 'di-' meant 'two' and 'oikos' meant 'house'.
Historical Evolution
'dioecious' changed from the Greek word 'dioikēs' to the modern English word 'dioecious' through New Latin 'dioecius'.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'having two houses', referring to separate male and female organisms, and this meaning has remained consistent in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
(of a plant or animal species) having the male and female reproductive organs in separate individuals.
Holly is a dioecious plant, so both male and female plants are needed for berries to form.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/02 10:57