woman

wom•an

[[t]ˈwʊm ən[/t]] n. pl. wom•en [[t]ˈwɪm ɪn[/t]] adj.

1) sex an adult female person, as distinguished from a girl or a man

2) a wife

3) sex a female lover or sweetheart

4) a female servant or attendant

5) women collectively; womankind

6) the nature, characteristics, or feelings often attributed to women; womanliness

7) off female:

a woman plumber[/ex]

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Etymology: bef. 900; ME womman, wimman, OE wīfman=wīf female +man human being; see wife, man wom′an•less, adj. syn: woman, female, lady are nouns referring to adult human beings who are biologically female, that is, capable of bearing offspring. woman is the general, neutral term: a wealthy woman. In scientific, statistical, and other objective use female is the neutral contrastive term to male: 104 females to every 100 males. female is sometimes used disparagingly: a gossipy female. lady in the sense “polite, refined woman” is a term of approval: We know you will always behave like a lady. usage: Although formerly woman was sometimes regarded as demeaning and lady was the term of courtesy, woman is the designation preferred by most modern female adults: League of Women Voters; American Association of University Women. woman is the standard parallel to man . When modifying a plural noun, woman, like man, becomes plural: women athletes; women students. The use of lady as a term of courtesy has diminished somewhat in recent years, although it still survives in a few set phrases (ladies' room; Ladies' Day). lady is also used, but decreasingly, as a term of reference for women engaged in occupations considered by some to be menial or routine: cleaning lady; saleslady. See also girl, lady