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viviparous

[ vahy-vip-er-uhs, vi- ]

adjective

  1. Zoology. bringing forth living young rather than eggs, as most mammals and some reptiles and fishes.
  2. Botany. producing seeds that germinate on the plant.


viviparous

/ vɪˈvɪpərəs; ˌvɪvɪˈpærɪtɪ /

adjective

  1. (of animals) producing offspring that as embryos develop within and derive nourishment from the body of the female parent Compare oviparous ovoviviparous
  2. (of plants) producing bulbils or young plants instead of flowers
  3. (of seeds) germinating before separating from the parent plant
“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


viviparous

/ vī-vĭpər-əs /

  1. Giving birth to living young that develop within the mother's body rather than hatching from eggs. All mammals except the monotremes are viviparous.
  2. Compare oviparous


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Derived Forms

  • viviparity, noun
  • viˈviparously, adverb
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Other Words From

  • vi·vipa·rism noun
  • viv·i·par·i·ty [viv-, uh, -, par, -i-tee, vahy-v, uh, -], vi·vipa·rous·ness noun
  • vi·vipa·rous·ly adverb
  • nonviv·i·pari·ty noun
  • nonvi·vipa·rous adjective
  • nonvi·vipa·rous·ly adverb
  • nonvi·vipa·rous·ness noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of viviparous1

First recorded in 1640–50, viviparous is from the Latin word vīviparus bringing forth living young. See vivi-, -parous
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Word History and Origins

Origin of viviparous1

C17: from Latin vīviparus, from vīvus alive + parere to bring forth
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Compare Meanings

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

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Example Sentences

The female is viviparous, and produces vast numbers of embryos, which appear in the circulating blood.

The same kind of animal is then at one time of the year viviparous, and at another oviparous.

He had previously paid attention to the viviparous embryos of other Mangroves.

A few of the univalves are viviparous—that is, they produce their young alive; but the majority lay eggs.

The creature is ovo-viviparous; that is, the eggs are hatched while still within the body of the parent.

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