heterogynous

heterogynous

English

Etymology

Ancient Greek

Adjective

heterogynous (comparative more heterogynous, superlative most heterogynous)

1. (zoology) Having females very unlike the males in form and structure.

   Some heterogynous insects have winged males and wingless females.

2. (zoology) Having females of two different kinds, one sexual and the other abortive or neuter, as ants or bees.

Part or all of this entry has been imported from the 1913 edition of Webster’s Dictionary, which is now free of copyright and hence in the public domain. The imported definitions may be significantly out of date, and any more recent senses may be completely missing.
(See the entry for heterogynous in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.)