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bisexuality

 - 7 dictionary results

bi⋅sex⋅u⋅al

  [bahy-sek-shoo-uhl]
Use bisexuality in a Sentence
–adjective
1. Biology.
a. of both sexes.
b. combining male and female organs in one individual; hermaphroditic.
2. sexually responsive to both sexes; ambisexual.
–noun
3. Biology. an animal or plant that has the reproductive organs of both sexes.
4. a person sexually responsive to both sexes; ambisexual.
Origin:
1815–25; bi- 1 + sexual

Related forms:
bi⋅sex⋅u⋅al⋅i⋅ty, bi⋅sex⋅u⋅al⋅ism, noun
bi⋅sex⋅u⋅al⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To bisexuality
bi·sex·u·al   (bī-sěk'shōō-əl)   
adj.  

  1. Of or relating to both sexes.

    1. Having both male and female reproductive organs; hermaphroditic.

    2. Botany Denoting a single flower that contains functional staminate and pistillate structures; perfect.

  3. Of, relating to, or having a sexual orientation to persons of either sex.

n.  

  1. A bisexual organism; a hermaphrodite.

  2. A bisexual person.

bi'sex·u·al'i·ty (-āl'ĭ-tē) n., bi·sex'u·al·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Cultural Dictionary

bisexuality

Sexual activity with, or sexual attraction to, members of both sexes.

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

bisexuality 
"attraction to both sexes" 1892, in translation of Krafft-Ebing; bisexual (adj.) is 1914; earlier meaning (1824) was "hermaphroditic." Not in general use until 1950s. Noun is 1922. Ambisexual was suggested 1924 but never caught on. Abbreviated form bi first attested 1956.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: 2bisexual
Function: noun
: a bisexual individual
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

bisexual bi·sex·u·al (bī-sěk'sh&oomacr;-əl)
adj.

  1. Relating to both sexes.

  2. Having both male and female reproductive organs; hermaphroditic.

  3. Relating to or having a sexual orientation to persons of either sex.

n.

  1. A bisexual organism; a hermaphrodite.

  2. A bisexual person.

bi'sex·u·al'i·ty (-āl'ĭ-tē) n.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Encyclopedia

bisexuality

in biology, the condition of an organism capable of producing both male and female gametes (sex cells). In plants and microorganisms, this is often referred to as monoecism. In multicellular animals, bisexuality is usually called hermaphroditism (q.v.).

Learn more about bisexuality with a free trial on Britannica.com.

Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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