sex
/ˈsɛks/ noun, verb
Forms sexes sexing sexed sexe s*x
- noun (countable) A category into which sexually-reproducing organisms are divided on the basis of their reproductive roles in their species; the system of such categories, which can differ by organism or by taxonomic branch. “The effect of the medication is dependent upon age, sex, and other factors.”
- noun (countable) Another category, especially of humans and especially based on sexuality or gender roles.
- noun (countable) The members of such a category, taken collectively.
- noun (uncountable) The distinction and relation between these categories, especially in humans; gender.
- noun (obsolete or literary, uncountable, with "the") Women; the human female gender and those who belong to it.
- noun (uncountable) Sexual activity, may be understood to be sexual intercourse unless preceded by a modifier.
- noun (countable, euphemistic or slang) Genitalia: a penis or vagina/vulva.
- noun (obsolete) Any kind of category, class, or community of people who possess shared characteristics, such as religion or race.
- verb (zoology, transitive) To determine the sex of (an animal).
- verb (chiefly US, colloquial, transitive) To have sex with.
- verb (chiefly US, colloquial, intransitive) To have sex.
Synonyms
gender do it get it on have sex sexual activity sexual practice sex activity sexual urge sexuality arouse excite turn on wind up
Etymology
From Middle English sexe (“sex [distinction between male and female] and gender”), from Old French sexe (“genitals; gender”), from Latin sexus (“gender; gender traits; males or females; genitals”), from Proto-Italic *seksus, from Proto-Indo-European *séksus, from *sek- (“to cut, cut off, sever”), thus meaning "section, division" (into male and female). Displaced native Old English hād (“sex, gender”).
Usage for women influenced by Middle French le sexe (“women”) (attested in 1580). Usage for third and additional sexes calqued from French troisième sexe, referring to masculine women in 1817 and homosexuals in 1847. First used by Lord Byron and others in English in reference to Catholic clergy. Usage for sexual intercourse first attested in 1899 (in the writings of H. G. Wells).
From sect.
Webster’s 1913
- noun The distinguishing peculiarity of male or female in both animals and plants; the physical difference between male and female; the assemblage of properties or qualities by which male is distinguished from female.
- noun One of the two divisions of organic beings formed on the distinction of male and female.
Etymology [L. sexus: cf. F. sexe.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “sex”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details