viviparous

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

adjective

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

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Origin of viviparous

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

Other words from viviparous

vi·vip·a·rism, noun
viv·i·par·i·ty [viv-uh-par-i-tee, vahy-vuh-], /ˌvɪv əˈpær ɪ ti, ˌvaɪ və-/, 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

Words Nearby viviparous

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use viviparous in a sentence

The female is viviparous, and produces vast numbers of embryos, which appear in the circulating blood.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis | James Campbell Todd
The same kind of animal is then at one time of the year viviparous, and at another oviparous.
The Book of Curiosities | I. Platts
He had previously paid attention to the viviparous embryos of other Mangroves.
Makers of British Botany; a collection of biographies by living botanists | Various
A few of the univalves are viviparous—that is, they produce their young alive; but the majority lay eggs.
The Sea Shore | William S. Furneaux
The creature is ovo-viviparous; that is, the eggs are hatched while still within the body of the parent.
The Sea Shore | William S. Furneaux

British Dictionary definitions for viviparous

viviparous

/ (vɪˈvɪpərəs) /

adjective

(of animals) producing offspring that as embryos develop within and derive nourishment from the body of the female parent: Compare oviparous, ovoviviparous
(of plants) producing bulbils or young plants instead of flowers

(of seeds) germinating before separating from the parent plant

Origin of viviparous

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

Derived forms of viviparous

viviparity (ˌvɪvɪˈpærɪtɪ), vivipary, viviparism or viviparousness, noun
viviparously, adverb

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

Scientific definitions for viviparous

viviparous

[ vī-vĭp′ər-əs ]

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

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