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viviparous

[ vahy-vip-er-uhs, vi- ]

adjective

  1. Zoology. bringing forth living young rather than eggs, as most mammals and some reptiles and fishes.
  2. Botany. producing seeds that germinate on the plant.


viviparous

/ vɪˈvɪpərəs; ˌvɪvɪˈpærɪtɪ /

adjective

  1. (of animals) producing offspring that as embryos develop within and derive nourishment from the body of the female parent Compare oviparous ovoviviparous
  2. (of plants) producing bulbils or young plants instead of flowers
  3. (of seeds) germinating before separating from the parent plant
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


viviparous

/ vī-vĭpər-əs /

  1. Giving birth to living young that develop within the mother's body rather than hatching from eggs. All mammals except the monotremes are viviparous.
  2. Compare oviparous


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Derived Forms

  • viviparity, noun
  • viˈviparously, adverb
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Other Words From

  • vi·vipa·rism noun
  • viv·i·par·i·ty [viv-, uh, -, par, -i-tee, vahy-v, uh, -], vi·vipa·rous·ness noun
  • vi·vipa·rous·ly adverb
  • nonviv·i·pari·ty noun
  • nonvi·vipa·rous adjective
  • nonvi·vipa·rous·ly adverb
  • nonvi·vipa·rous·ness noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of viviparous1

First recorded in 1640–50, viviparous is from the Latin word vīviparus bringing forth living young. See vivi-, -parous
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Word History and Origins

Origin of viviparous1

C17: from Latin vīviparus, from vīvus alive + parere to bring forth
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Example Sentences

Viviparous means “birthing live young which have developed inside the body of the parent,” the newspaper wrote.

“Both are viviparous and are common in Maharashtra waters,” Akhilesh said.

The fossil challenges the notion that these animals did not lay eggs and were fully viviparous, giving birth to live young.

From Reuters

“We suspect these large reptiles had the same reproductive strategy as viviparous lizards and snakes, which lay eggs with a very thin shell that hatch immediately after being laid,” Legendre said.

From Reuters

Mammals and some reptiles, including certain snakes and lizards, are viviparous, which means that they give birth to live young.

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