Dictionary
Thesaurus
Reference
Translate
Web
sexual - 6 dictionary results

sex⋅u⋅al

[sek-shoo-uhl or, especially Brit., seks-yoo-]
–adjective
1. of, pertaining to, or for sex: sexual matters; sexual aids.
2. occurring between or involving the sexes: sexual relations.
3. having sexual organs or reproducing by processes involving both sexes.

Origin:
1645–55; < LL sexuālis, equiv. to sexu(s) sex + -ālis -al 1


sex⋅u⋅al⋅ly, adverb
sex·u·al   (sěk'shōō-əl)   
adj.  
  1. Of, relating to, involving, or characteristic of sex, sexuality, the sexes, or the sex organs and their functions.
  2. Implying or symbolizing erotic desires or activity.
  3. Relating to, produced by, or involving reproduction characterized by the union of male and female gametes: sexual reproduction.

[Late Latin sexuālis, from Latin sexus, sex.]
sex'u·al·ly adv.

Sexual

Sex"u*al\, a. [L. sexualis, fr. sexus sex: cf. F. sexuel.] 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; as, sexual characteristics; sexual intercourse, connection, or commerce; sexual desire; sexual diseases; sexual generation.

Sexual dimorphism (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.

Sexual method (Bot.), a method of classification proposed by Linn[ae]us, founded mainly on difference in number and position of the stamens and pistils of plants.

Sexual selection (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. --Darwin.

In these cases, therefore, natural selection seems to have acted independently of sexual selection. --A. R. Wallace.
Language Translation for : sexual
Spanish: sexual,
German: Geschlechts-..,
Japanese: 性の

sexual 
1651, "of or pertaining to the fact of being male or female," from L.L. sexualis "relating to sex," from L. sexus (see sex). Meaning "pertaining to copulation or generation" is from 1799 (in sexual intercourse). Sexuality "capability of sexual feelings" is from 1879. Sexual revolution first attested 1970 in Kate Millett.

Main Entry: sex·u·al
Pronunciation: 'seksh-(&-)w&l, 'sek-sh&l
Function: adjective
1 : of, relating to, or associated withsex or the sexes <sexual differentiation> <sexual conflict>
2 : having or involving sex <sexual reproduction> —sex·u·al·ly /'seksh-(&-)w&-lE, 'seksh-(&-)lE/ adverb

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

  1. Of, relating to, involving, or characteristic of sex, sexuality, the sexes, or the sex organs and their functions.
  2. Implying or symbolizing erotic desires or activity.
  3. Of, relating to, or involving the union of male and female gametes.

sex'u·al·ly adv.

Search another word or see sexual on Thesaurus | Reference