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sex
1[ seks ]
noun
- the male, female, or sometimes intersex division of a species, especially as differentiated with reference to the reproductive functions or physical characteristics such as genitals, XX and XY chromosomes, etc.
- a label assigned to a person at birth, usually male or female and sometimes intersex, and typically based on genital configuration. the current entry.
- the sum of the structural and functional differences by which male, female, and sometimes intersex organisms are distinguished, or the phenomena or behavior dependent on these differences:
These plants change sex depending on how much light they receive.
- sexual relations or activity, especially sexual intercourse:
We hold a large collection of oral histories that explore changing attitudes to sex and marriage.
- the sexual instinct or attraction drawing one organism toward another, or its manifestation in life and conduct:
Some disapprove of choosing a life partner based on sex.
- the genitals; genitalia:
A towel was hiding his sex from view.
verb (used with object)
- to ascertain the sex of or assign a sex to, especially newly-hatched chicks.
verb phrase
- Informal.
- to arouse sexually:
The only intent of that show was to sex up the audience.
- to increase the appeal of; to make more interesting, attractive, or exciting:
I needed to sex up my resume with bold fonts and snappy formatting.
sex
2[ seks ]
adjective
- six.
sex-
3- a combining form, occurring in loanwords from Latin, meaning “six” ( sexagenary ); on this model used in the formation of compound words:
sexpartite.
sex-
1combining_form
- six
sexcentennial
sex
2/ sɛks /
noun
- the sum of the characteristics that distinguish organisms on the basis of their reproductive function
- either of the two categories, male or female, into which organisms are placed on this basis
- short for sexual intercourse
- feelings or behaviour resulting from the urge to gratify the sexual instinct
- sexual matters in general
adjective
- of or concerning sexual matters
sex education
sex hygiene
- based on or arising from the difference between the sexes
sex discrimination
verb
- tr to ascertain the sex of
sex
/ sĕks /
- Either of two divisions, male and female, into which most sexually reproducing organisms are grouped. Sex is usually determined by anatomy, the makeup of the sex chromosomes, and the type and amount of hormones produced. When the sex of an organism is determined by the sex chromosomes, males and females are generally produced in equal numbers. In other organisms, such as bees and wasps, in which females develop from fertilized eggs and males develop from unfertilized eggs, distribution of the sexes is unequal.
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Sensitive Note
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Word History and Origins
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Word History and Origins
Origin of sex1
Origin of sex2
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A Closer Look
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Idioms and Phrases
- to have sex, to engage in sexual relations, especially sexual intercourse.
More idioms and phrases containing sex
see fair sex .Discover More
Example Sentences
However much we gossip about heterosexual couples with large age gaps, we at least refrain from calling them sex offenders.
Scruff believes that sex is not the primary concern of users.
To those who agreed with him, Bush pledged that the law against same-sex marriage would remain intact.
Bush busy engaging constituents on both sides of the same-sex marriage debate ahead of the 2004 presidential election.
This week, Florida became the 36th state to allow same-sex marriage.
Are you quite sure you have never suffered from this rather common disorder, gentle reader, at least, if you be of the male sex?
But if you restrict it, to the sense in which it is commonly applied to the angelic sex, I am not prepared to answer.
As public accuser, he caused the death of immense numbers, of all ages and either sex.
That he might lose his head and 'introduce an element of sex' was conscience confessing that it had been already introduced.
He respected her courage and obvious power to rise above the personal attitude of her sex.
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Related Words
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Words That Use Sex-
What does sex- mean?
Sex- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “six.” It appears occasionally in technical terms, especially in mathematics.
Sex- comes from Latin sex, meaning “six.” Yes, “six.” Discover why at our entry for six. Another combining form meaning “six” is hexa-, which comes from Greek héx. Learn more at our Words That Use entry for hexa-.
What are variants of sex-?
Sex- is a variant of sexi-, which sometimes loses its -i- when combined with words or word elements beginning with vowels.
Want to know more? Read our Words That Use sexi- article.
Examples of sex-
An example of a term that features the combining form sex- is sexennial, meaning either “of or for six years” or “occuring every six years.” Sexennial comes from a term in Latin that features the equivalent of the form sex-.
We know that sex- means “six.” The -ennial portion of the word may also look familiar; it comes from the Latin annus, meaning “year.” Sexennial literally translates to “(of) six years.”
What are some words that use the combining form sex-?
- sexangular
- sexcentenary
- sexdecillion
- sexenary (using the equivalent form of sex- in Latin)
- sexfoil
- sexpartite
- sextet
What are some other forms that sex- may be commonly confused with?
In some terms, such as sexism, sex- derives from Latin sexus and is used to mean “gender” or “sex.” Find out more at our entry for sex—which should not be confused for the combining form sex-.
Break it down!
The word partite means “divided into parts.” With this in mind, what does sexpartite mean in everyday language?
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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