Definition of "hermaphrodite" in English

noun

1. (dated, now offensive) A person possessing ambiguous sexual organs or characteristics.

2. (biology) Cosexual: an organism possessing both types of gonads; a flower possessing both stamens and pistils.

   • An earthworm is a hermaphrodite.

3. (biology) Dichogamous: an organism which begins its life as one sex and changes its sex over its life cycle.

   • Comb jellies are sequential hermaphrodites.

4. A person or thing possessing two opposing qualities.

5. (nautical) A hermaphrodite brig.

6. A farm wagon convertible to multiple purposes.

7. (World War I military, historical) An armoured fighting vehicle having features of both male tanks and female tanks.

adjective

1. (dated, now offensive) Having ambiguous sexual organs or characteristics.

2. (biology) Having both ovaries and testes or both stamens and pistils.

3. Combining two opposing qualities.