females

Noun

female (plural females)

1. An animal of the sex that produces eggs.
   • Accumulated data indicate that in all species of sharks, the females grow larger than the males.1983, Richard Ellis, The Book of Sharks, Knopf, →ISBN, page 36
2. A human of feminine gender; a girl or woman.
   • It would be years sometimes ere he saw the face of a female, and when he did, that face would not be overangelic.1896, John Brown, Twenty-five Years a Parson in the Wild West, page 57
3. A plant which produces only that kind of reproductive organ capable of developing into fruit after impregnation or fertilization; a pistillate plant.
4. A bacterium which lacks the F factor, and is able to receive DNA from another bacterium which has that factor.
   • During mating, F+ male bacteria transfer the F factor to the recipient females, transforming them into F+ males.2001 August 1, Harrison G. Echols, Operators and Promoters: The Story of Molecular Biology and Its Creators, Univ of California Press, →ISBN, page 45
5. A female connector, pipe fitting, etc.
   • These are the most common type, as they join females of the same diameter together. […] For example, you may need an adapter such as a 3-in. pipe thread (a common thread used to join pipes) female to 2 1⁄2 NH male.2009, Fire Engineering's Handbook for Firefighter I and II, Fire Engineering Books, →ISBN, page 412

See all 10 meanings of female