adj. 1. Zoology Giving birth to living offspring that develop within the mother's body. Most mammals and some other animals are viviparous. 2. Botany a. Germinating or producing seeds that germinate before becoming detached from the parent plant, as in the mangrove. b. Producing bulbils or new plants rather than seed, as in the tiger lily. [From Latin vīviparus : vīvus, alive; see gwei- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots + -parus, -parous.] vi′vi·pari·ty (vī′və-părĭ-tē, vĭv′ə-) n. vi·vipa·rous·ly adv. |
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