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sex - What does it mean?

Definition of 'sex'

English

Alternative forms

* (rare or archaic)

Noun

  • (countable) A main division into which an organism is placed according to its reproductive functions or organs.
    • What sex is that hamster?
    The abnormality is found in both sexes .
    Slime molds are sometimes erroneously said to have thirteen sexes .
  • (uncountable) The sum of the biological characteristics by which male and female and other organisms are distinguished.
    • The effect of the medication is dependent upon age, sex , and other factors.
    The researchers divided the subjects by sex .
  • (uncountable) Sexual intercourse; the act of sexual intercourse.
    • All you ever think about is sex .
    We had sex in the back seat.
  • * 1934 , translation of the Qur'an (23:5) by Abdullah Yusuf Ali
    • [The believers ... those ... ] who abstain from sex
  • * '>citation
  • (euphemistic) Genitalia; a penis or vagina.
  • * 1993 , Catherine Coulter, The Heiress Bride (ISBN 1101214147), page 354:
    • She touched his sex with her hand.
  • (obsolete|with the definite article) Women; womankind.
  • *Note on citations: None of the following actually shows that the word was used to mean "womankind".
  • * 1740 , Samuel Richardson, Pamela :
    • ‘With all my heart,’ replied my master; ‘I have so much honour for all the sex , that I would not have the meanest person of it stand, while I sit, had I been to have made the custom.’
  • * 1759 , , page 52:
  • *
  • *
  • * 1807 , John Hoole, trans. Ludovico Ariosto, Orlando Furioso , XXVII ll. 1003-4:
    • But how can each the boasted treasure own, / When through the sex no two chaste wives are known?
  • * 1862 , Wilkie Collins, No Name :
    • Even the reptile temperament of Noel Vanstone warmed under the influence of the sex : he had an undeniably appreciative eye for a handsome woman, and Magdalen's grace and beauty were not thrown away on him.

    Usage notes

    Synonyms

    * (either of two main classes of sexually reproducing living things) gender * (sexual intercourse) coitus, sexual intercourse; See also

    Derived terms

    * anal sex * battle of the sexes * better than sex * cybersex * desex * electrosex * fair sex * group sex * have sex * leathersex * nonpenetrative sex * oral sex * phone sex * safe sex * sex act * sex aid * sex appeal * sex bomb * sex change (rel-mid3) * sex discrimination * sex drive * sex education * sexful * sex god * sex goddess * sexer * sexercise * sex kitten * sex machine * sex object * sex offender * sex on legs * sex on a stick * sex organ * sex partner * sexploration * sex ratio (rel-mid3) * sex selection * sex-selective * sex scene * sex shop * sex symbol * sex tape * sex tourism * sex toy * sex up * sexpert * sexploitation * sexpot * sexy * unisex * unsex * vaginal sex * whimsical sex (rel-bottom)

    Related terms

    * sexual * sexuality (rel-mid) * sexualize * sexualization (rel-bottom)

    Descendants

    * German: (l)

    Verb

    (es)
  • (zoology) To determine the biological sex of an animal.
    • It is not easy to sex lizards.
  • (colloquial) To have sex with.
    • The passionate lovers sexed each other every night.
    OK, so I'm sexin' her, right, and all I can think of is this other girl.

    See also

    * female * gender * intersexed * male * missexed, missexing * sexuality * sex up * third sex * unsex 1000 English basic words ----

    Similar to 'sex'

    six, sax, sox, sux, skux