dioecious

American  

[dahy-ee-shuhs] / daɪˈi ʃəs /

Or diecious

adjective

Biology.

1. (especially of plants) having the male and female organs in separate and distinct individuals; having separate sexes.

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dioecious British  

/ daɪˈɔɪkəs, daɪˈiːʃəs /

adjective

1. (of some plants) having the male and female reproductive organs in separate flowers on separate plants Compare monoecious

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dioecious Scientific  

/ dī-ē′shəs /

1. Having male flowers on one plant and female flowers on another plant of the same species. The holly and asparagus plants are dioecious.

2. Compare monoecious

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Other Word Forms

• dioeciousness
  noun
• dioecism
  noun
• dioeciously
  adverb

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Etymology

Origin of dioecious

1740–50; < New Latin Dioeci ( a ) a class name ( di- di- ¹ + Greek oikía a house, dwelling, spelling variant of oîkos ) + -ous

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Compare meaning

How does dioecious compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• monoecious vs. dioecious

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

dioecious

Salix are generally dioecious — their male and female reproductive parts are on different plants.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 6, 2024

In fact, Nepenthes is the only dioecious carnivorous plant.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 30, 2023

This is true; while some trees are dioecious, meaning there are distinct male and female individuals, the vast majority are not.

From Slate ● Oct. 20, 2021

Willows are dioecious; that is, male trees produce only male flowers, and female trees produce only female flowers.

From New York Times ● Apr. 4, 2018

The former plants are termed self-incompatible hermaphrodites; the latter, dioecious species.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

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