Lexic.us

Definition of Hermaphrodite

1. Noun. One having both male and female sexual characteristics and organs; at birth an unambiguous assignment of male or female cannot be made.

2. Adjective. Of animal or plant; having both male female reproductive organs.

Definition of Hermaphrodite

1. n. An individual which has the attributes of both male and female, or which unites in itself the two sexes; an animal or plant having the parts of generation of both sexes, as when a flower contains both the stamens and pistil within the same calyx, or on the same receptacle. In some cases reproduction may take place without the union of the distinct individuals. In the animal kingdom true hermaphrodites are found only among the invertebrates. See Illust. in Appendix, under Helminths.

2. a. Including, or being of, both sexes; as, an hermaphrodite animal or flower.

Definition of Hermaphrodite

1. A hermaphrodite is an organism having both male and female reproductive organs. In many species, hermaphroditism is a common part of the life-cycle, enabling a form of sexual reproduction in which partners are not separated into distinct male and female types of individual. Hermaphroditism most commonly occurs in invertebrates, although it is also found in some fish, and to a lesser degree in other vertebrates.

Historically, the term hermaphrodite has also been used to describe ambiguous genitalia and gonadal mosaicism in individuals of gonochoristic species, especially human beings. The term comes from the name of the minor Greek god Hermaphroditus, son of Hermes and Aphrodite.

Recently, intersex has been used and preferred by many such individuals, encouraging medical professionals to use the term.

Medical Definition of Hermaphrodite

1. An organism which has both male and female organs, and produces both male gametes (sperm) and female gametes (eggs). The organism can have both types of organs at the same time (simultaneous hermaphrodite) or have one type early in life and the other type later in life (sequential hermaphrodite). (09 Oct 1997)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Hermaphrodite

Hermann Ludwig Ferdinand von Helmholtz Hermann Maurice Saxe Hermann Minkowski Hermann Snellen Hermann von Helmholtz Hermann Wilhelm Goring Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome type VI Herman Hollerith Herman Melville

Herman Northrop Frye Herman Wouk hermaphrodism hermaphrodism hermaphrodite (current term) hermaphrodite (current term) hermaphrodites hermaphrodite brig hermaphroditic hermaphroditic

hermaphroditical hermaphroditism hermaphroditism Hermaphroditus hermatypic hermeneutic hermeneutical hermeneutical hermeneutically hermeneutics

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