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Sex
Definitions
- 1 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. countable
"The effect of the medication is dependent upon age, sex, and other factors."
- 2 Alternative form of sect. alt-of, alternative, obsolete
- 3 activities associated with sexual intercourse wordnet
- 4 Another category, especially of humans and especially based on sexuality or gender roles. countable
"Still there are some loop-holes out of which a man may creep, and dare to think and act for himself; but for a woman it is an herculean task, because she has difficulties peculiar to her sex to overcome, which require almost super-human powers."
- 5 the properties that distinguish organisms on the basis of their reproductive roles wordnet
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- 6 The members of such a category, taken collectively. countable
"It was a weakness / In me, but incident to all our sex."
- 7 all of the feelings resulting from the urge to gratify sexual impulses wordnet
- 8 The distinction and relation between these categories, especially in humans; gender. uncountable
"A lot of women now like men to pay for them on dates... We've dealt with the outdated view of sex underpinning this."
- 9 either of the two categories (male or female) into which most organisms are divided wordnet
- 10 Women; the human female gender and those who belong to it. literary, obsolete, uncountable, with-definite-article
"The sex of Venice are undoubtedly of a distinguished beauty."
- 11 Sexual activity, usually sexual intercourse unless preceded by a modifier. uncountable
"We marry in fear and trembling, sex for a home is the woman's traffic, and the man comes to his heart's desire when his heart's desire is dead."
- 12 Genitalia: a penis or vagina/vulva. countable, euphemistic, slang
"Another ha's gon through with the bargain... One that will find the way to her Sex, before you'le come to kissing her hand."
- 1 To determine the sex of (an animal). transitive
"If we sex the cattle, which is the only way to get at their value, we shall have... 400 cows, 200 yearling heifers."
- 2 tell the sex (of young chickens) wordnet
- 3 To have sex with. US, colloquial, transitive
"As good as Muddah had handled me in bed, sexing her hadn't done a damn thing to take my mind off my cousin Smoove."
- 4 to evoke sexual feelings wordnet
- 5 To have sex. US, colloquial, intransitive
"Our baby is eighteen months old now, and cries when we sex"
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *sek-der. Proto-Indo-European *séksusder. Proto-Italic *seksus Latin sexusder. Old French sexeder. Middle English sexe English sex 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). 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).
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *sek-der. Proto-Indo-European *séksusder. Proto-Italic *seksus Latin sexusder. Old French sexeder. Middle English sexe English sex 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). 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.
See also for "sex"
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