dioecious

or di·e·cious

[ dahy-ee-shuh s ]

/ daɪˈi ʃəs /

adjective Biology.

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

Nearby words

diocese, diocletian, diode, diode laser, diodorus siculus, dioecious, dioeciously, dioestrus, diogenes, diogenic, diol

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

Related formsdi·oe·cious·ly, adverbdi·oe·cious·ness, noundi·oe·cism

[dahy-ee-siz-uh m] /daɪˈi sɪz əm/, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for dioecious

Shrubs, with monoecious or dioecious flowers in catkins, and aromatic foliage.
The Plants of Michigan|Henry Allan Gleason
The tree is dioecious, bearing male catkins on one plant, female on another.
Scientific American Supplement No. 360, November 25, 1882|Various
Many modifications in details occur, and the plants may be dioecious.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 3|Various
The flowers have no petals and are polygamous or dioecious (male, female and hermaphrodite flowers occur).
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 16, Slice 7|Various

The flowers are dioecious, rarely monoecious, provided with one or two perianths.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 7|Various

British Dictionary definitions for dioecious

dioecious

diecious dioicous (daɪˈɔɪkəs)

/ (daɪˈiːʃəs) /

adjective

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

Derived Formsdioeciously, dieciously or dioicously, adverbdioeciousness, dieciousness or dioicousness, noun

Word Origin for dioecious

C18: from New Latin Dioecia name of class, from di 1 + Greek oikia house, dwelling

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medicine definitions for dioecious

dioecious

adj.

Of or relating to organisms, especially plants, having the male and female reproductive organs borne on separate individuals of the same species; sexually distinct.

Science definitions for dioecious

dioecious

[ dī-ē′shəs ]

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