a. [ Ovum + viviparous: cf. F. ovovivipare. ] (Biol.) Oviparous, but hatching the egg while it is within the body, as some fishes and reptiles. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. viviparus; vivus alive + parere to bear, bring forth. Cf. Viper. ] (Biol.) Producing young in a living state, as most mammals, or as those plants the offspring of which are produced alive, either by bulbs instead of seeds, or by the seeds themselves germinating on the plant, instead of falling, as they usually do; -- opposed to oviparous. [ 1913 Webster ]

Viviparous fish. (Zool.) See Embiotocoid. --
Viviparous shell (Zool.), any one of numerous species of operculated fresh-water gastropods belonging to Viviparus, Melantho, and allied genera. Their young, when born, have a well-developed spiral shell. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. (Biol.) In a viviparous manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Biol.) The quality of being viviparous; viviparity. [ 1913 Webster ]