viviparous

English

Alternative forms
  • vivipartous (rare)

Etymology

From Latin vīviparus, from vīvus (“alive, life, living”) + pariō (“give birth, produce, bring forth”).

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /vɪˈvɪpəɹəs/

Adjective

viviparous (not comparable)

  1. (of an animal or animal species) Being born alive, as are most mammals, some reptiles, and a few fish (as opposed to being laid as an egg and subsequently hatching, as do most birds and many other species).
  2. (of a plant or plant species) Arising from an embryo that develops from the outset (rather than from a true seed that then germinates).

Antonyms
  • (antonym(s) of “of an animal”): oviparous

Derived terms

Translations
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