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dioecism

 - 4 dictionary results

di⋅oe⋅cious

  [dahy-ee-shuhs]
Use dioecism in a Sentence
–adjective Biology.
(esp. of plants) having the male and female organs in separate and distinct individuals; having separate sexes.
Also, diecious.

Origin:
1740–50; < NL Dioeci(a) a class name (di- di- 1 + Gk oikía a house, dwelling, sp. var. of oîkos) + -ous

Related forms:
di⋅oe⋅cious⋅ly, adverb
di⋅oe⋅cious⋅ness, noun
di⋅oe⋅cism  [dahy-ee-siz-uhm] , noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To dioecism
di·oe·cious also di·e·cious   (dī-ē'shəs)   
adj.   Botany

  1. Having the male and female reproductive organs borne on separate individuals of the same species.

  2. Characterized by species in which the male and female reproductive organs occur on different individuals; sexually distinct.


[From New Latin Dioecia, former class name : di-1 + Greek oikiā, a dwelling; see weik-1 in Indo-European roots.]
di·oe'cious·ly adv., di·oe'cism (-sĭz'əm) n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Medical Dictionary

dioecious di·oe·cious or di·e·cious (dī-ē'shəs)
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.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Science Dictionary
dioecious   (dī-ē'shəs)  Pronunciation Key 
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.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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