hermaphrodite

[ hur-maf-ruh-dahyt ]
/ hɜrˈmæf rəˌdaɪt /

noun

an individual in which reproductive organs of both sexes are present. Compare pseudohermaphrodite.
Biology. an organism, as an earthworm or plant, having normally both the male and female organs of generation.
a person or thing in which two opposite qualities are combined.

adjective

of, relating to, or characteristic of a hermaphrodite.
combining two opposite qualities.
Botany. monoclinous.

Origin of hermaphrodite

1350–1400; Middle English hermofrodite < Latin hermaphrodītus < Greek hermaphródītos hemaphrodite, name of the son of Hermes and Aphrodite

OTHER WORDS FROM hermaphrodite

her·maph·ro·dit·ic [hur-maf-ruh-dit-ik] /hɜrˌmæf rəˈdɪt ɪk/, her·maph·ro·dit·i·cal, her·maph·ro·dit·ish [hur-maf-ruh-dahy-tish] /hɜrˌmæf rəˈdaɪ tɪʃ/, adjective her·maph·ro·dit·i·cal·ly, adverb

Example sentences from the Web for hermaphroditic

British Dictionary definitions for hermaphroditic

hermaphrodite
/ (hɜːˈmæfrəˌdaɪt) /

noun

biology an individual animal or flower that has both male and female reproductive organs
a person having both male and female sexual characteristics and genital tissues
a person or thing in which two opposite forces or qualities are combined

adjective

having the characteristics of a hermaphrodite

Derived forms of hermaphrodite

hermaphroditic or hermaphroditical, adjective hermaphroditically, adverb hermaphroditism, noun

Word Origin for hermaphrodite

C15: from Latin hermaphrodītus, from Greek, after Hermaphroditus

Medical definitions for hermaphroditic

hermaphrodite
[ hər-măfrə-dīt′ ]

n.

An individual having the reproductive organs and many of the secondary sex characteristics of both sexes.

Other words from hermaphrodite

her•maph′ro•ditic (-dĭtĭk) adj.

Scientific definitions for hermaphroditic

hermaphrodite
[ hər-măfrə-dīt′ ]

An organism, such as an earthworm or flowering plant, having both male and female reproductive organs in a single individual.