Male different from female parent (6)
I believe the answer is:
mother
'female parent' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'male different' is the wordplay.
'male' becomes 'm' (common abbreviation).
'different' becomes 'other' (similar in meaning).
'm'+'other'='MOTHER'
'from' is the link.
(Other definitions for mother that I've seen before include "She gave birth to her Tom" , "Be overprotective" , "Dam" , "- - 7 across, pantomime" , "One who pours the tea?" .)