autosexing
Upper-Intermediate (B2)
IPA: /ˌɔːtəʊˈsɛksɪŋ/
KK: /ɔːtəʊˈsɛksɪŋ/
adjective
Definition
Describing organisms that show distinct male and female characteristics from the moment they are born or hatch.
Example
Some species of fish are autosexing, allowing them to be identified as male or female right after hatching.
Conversation
Did you hear about the new species they discovered?
No, what’s special about it?
Apparently, it has some autosexing traits that are really fascinating.
Wow, that sounds incredible! I’d love to learn more about it.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
dimorphic
biphasic
dichotomous
Antonyms
monomorphic
uniform
identical
noun
Definition
A method of breeding animals, particularly birds, that allows for the identification of their sex at the time of hatching based on visible characteristics.
Example
Autosexing is commonly used in poultry farming to easily determine the sex of chicks right after they hatch.
Conversation
Have you heard about autosexing in poultry?
Yeah, it's fascinating how they can identify the sex at hatching.
Right? I think it really helps with breeding efficiency.
Root Explanation
Autosexing → It is formed from "auto-" (meaning self) and "sexing" (derived from the word "sex" which comes from Latin "sexus", meaning gender or sex). The term refers to the process of determining the sex of an organism by itself, without external intervention.
Memory Tip
Think of 'self' ('auto-') determining its 'gender' ('sexing') — that's what autosexing means.
Visually Confused Words
No commonly confused words.