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.

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

OTHER WORDS FROM dioecious

di·oe·cious·ly, adverb di·oe·cious·ness, noun di·oe·cism [dahy-ee-siz-uh m] /daɪˈi sɪz əm/, noun

Example sentences from the Web for dioecious

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 plants Compare monoecious

Derived forms of dioecious

dioeciously, dieciously or dioicously, adverb dioeciousness, dieciousness or dioicousness, noun

Word Origin for dioecious

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

Medical 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.

Scientific definitions for dioecious

dioecious
[ dī-ēshəs ]

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.