Viviparous

Pronunciation

• IPA: /vɪˈvɪpÉ™rÉ™s/

Alternative forms

• vivipartous rare

Origin

From Latin vīviparus, from vīvus ("alive") + pariō ("give birth").

Full definition of viviparous

Adjective

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

• (of an animal) oviparous

Derived terms

• ovoviviparous
• viviparous lizard
• vivipary, viviparity
• viviparously