Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- adjective Relating to, involving, or characteristic of sex or sexuality, or the sex organs and their functions.
- adjective Relating to the sexes or to gender.
- adjective Relating to, involving, or being reproduction characterized by the union of male and female gametes.
- adjective Able to reproduce in this way; fertile.
from The Century Dictionary.
- Of or pertaining to sex or the sexes in general: as, sexual characteristics.
- Distinctive of sex, whether male or female; peculiar to or characteristic of either sex; genital: as, sexual organs: the sexual system.
- Of the two sexes; done by means of the two sexes; reproductive: as, sexual intercourse; sexual reproduction.
- Peculiar to or affecting the sexes or organs of sex; venereal: as, sexual disease or malformation.
- Having sex: sexed; separated into two sexes; monœcious: the opposite of
asexual : as a sexual animal. - Such degree of affinity between the sexes of different species as enables these species to interbreed or hybridize.
- In botany, a system of classification founded on the distinction of sexes in plants, as male and female. Also called sexual method, artificial system, Linnean system. See
Linnean .
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- adjective Of or pertaining to sex, or the sexes; distinguishing sex; peculiar to the distinction and office of male or female; relating to the distinctive genital organs of the sexes; proceeding from, or based upon, sex.
- adjective (Biol.) the condition of having one of the sexes existing in two forms, or varieties, differing in color, size, etc., as in many species of butterflies which have two kinds of females.
- adjective (Bot.) a method of classification proposed by Linnæus, founded mainly on difference in number and position of the stamens and pistils of plants.
- adjective (Biol.) the selective preference of one sex for certain characteristics in the other, such as bright colors, musical notes, etc.; also, the selection which results from certain individuals of one sex having more opportunities of pairing with the other sex, on account of greater activity, strength, courage, etc.; applied likewise to that kind of evolution which results from such sexual preferences.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- adjective Of or relating to having
sex , sexual acts and sexual reproduction. - adjective Of or relating to
gender . - adjective Of or relating to
sexuality . - adjective Of or relating to
sexual orientations , sexual identity orpreferences with respect tosexual intercourse - noun biology A species which reproduces by sexual rather than asexual reproduction, or a member of such a species.
- noun LGBT A person who experiences
sexual attraction , a person who has interest in or desire forsex (especially as contrasted with anasexual ).
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- adjective having or involving sex
- adjective involved in a sexual relationship
- adjective of or relating to or characterized by sexuality
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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And so, after the first sexual encounter, gradually his sexual desire builds back up and joins, as it were, these other unfulfilled desires -- this other need to totally possess her, after she's passed out, as
TEDBUNDY Michaud, S G & Aynesworth H 1989
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There's no denying there's a sexual aspect to it, uh, but it was less-the sexual aspect was less than actual sexual conduct and more directed toward the sex
TEDBUNDY Michaud, S G & Aynesworth H 1989
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If we introduce two terms and call the person from whom the sexual attraction emanates the _sexual object_, and the action towards which the impulse strives the _sexual aim_, then the scientifically examined experience shows us many deviations in reference to both sexual object and sexual aim, the relations of which to the accepted standard require thorough investigation.
Three Contributions to the Theory of Sex Sigmund Freud 1897
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The boys were never properly questioned about whether there was a sexual motive in the killing as they became hysterical when the subject was brought up, but police were concerned that sexual abuse may have been committed.
mirror.co.uk - Home 2010
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Republican U.S. Senator Larry Craig, who wanted to give states even more rights to prevent gay marriage and voted against including the term "sexual orientation" in a hate crimes bill, resigned after he was caught soliciting gay sex in an airport bathroom.
James Moore: Rick Perry Is so Not Gay - Excerpted From Adios Mofo: Why Rick Perry Will Make America Miss George W. Bush James Moore 2011
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And once again the term "sexual harassment" is being thrown around in a way that conveys a misleadingly broad definition.
Sexual Harassment's Legal Morass Curt Levey 2011
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Republican U.S. Senator Larry Craig, who wanted to give states even more rights to prevent gay marriage and voted against including the term "sexual orientation" in a hate crimes bill, resigned after he was caught soliciting gay sex in an airport bathroom.
James Moore: Rick Perry Is so Not Gay - Excerpted From Adios Mofo: Why Rick Perry Will Make America Miss George W. Bush James Moore 2011
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Even 20 years after Justice Thomas joined the Supreme Court, and Americans heard the term sexual harassment'' in televised hearings featuring his accuser, Anita Hill, his confirmation remains a painful chapter in the nation's history because of its mix of race, sex and the left-right political chasm.
NYT > Home Page By TRIP GABRIEL 2011
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Currently, the term sexual assault is used instead.
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Pakistan's ambassador went further, telling diplomats he preferred the term "sexual disorientation."
qroqqa commented on the word sexual
Models developed by population geneticist Sally Otto . . . suggest that under most circumstances a diverse population of clones, which accumulate differences over time as a result of mutations, outperforms sexuals.
—New Scientist, 13 June 2009
'Sexual' used as noun, contrasted with 'clone'.
June 15, 2009