Definition of: masculine

(mas′kyə·li) adjective
1. Having the distinguishing qualities of the male sex, or pertaining to males; specially suitable for men; manly: opposed to feminine.
2. Gram. Being of the male gender.
3. Bot. Male; staminate.
—noun
1. A male person; that which is of the male sex.
2. Gram. The masculine gender or a word of this gender: opposed to feminine and neuter. [<OF masculin <L masculinus <masculus male <mas. Doublet of MALE.]
—mas′cu·line·ly adverb
—mas′cu·lin′i·ty, mas′·cu·line·ness noun Synonyms (adj.): male, manful, manlike, manly, mannish, virile. Male is applied to the sex, masculine to the qualities, especially to the stronger, hardier, and more imperious qualities that distinguish the male sex; as applied to women, masculine has often the depreciatory sense of unwomanly, rude, or harsh; as, a masculine face or voice, or the like; still one may say in a commendatory way, she acted with masculine courage or decision. Masculine may apply to the distinctive qualities of the male sex at any age; virile applies to the distinctive qualities of mature manhood only, as opposed not only to feminine or womanly but to childish, and is thus an emphatic word for sturdy, intrepid, etc. See also under MANLY. Antonyms: see synonyms for FEMININE.