Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Sexual

Sex′u-al

,
Adj.
[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 Linnaeus, 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.

Webster 1828 Edition


Sexual

SEX'UAL

,
Adj.
[from sex.]
1. Pertaining to sex or the sexes; distinguishing the sex; denoting what is particular to the distinction and office of male and female; as sexual characteristics; sexual intercourse, connection or commerce.
2. Sexual systemm in botany, the system which ascribes to vegetables the distinction of sexes, suppose that plants are male and female, each sex furnished with the appropriate organs or parts; the male producing a pollen or dust which fecundates the stigma of the pistil or female organ, and is necessary to render it prolific. It is found however that most plants are hermaphrodite, the male and female organs being contained in the same flower. This doctrine was taught to a certain extent by Theophrastus, Dioscorides and Pliny among the ancients, but has been more fully illustrated by Caesalpinus, Grew, Camerarius, Linne and many others among the moderns.

Definition 2024


sexual

sexual

See also: -sexual

English

Adjective

sexual (comparative more sexual, superlative most sexual)

  1. Of or relating to having sex, sexual acts and sexual reproduction.
    Giving oral sex is my favorite sexual act.
  2. Of or relating to gender.
    • 2013 July 19, Mark Tran, Denied an education by war”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 6, page 1:
      One particularly damaging, but often ignored, effect of conflict on education is the proliferation of attacks on schools [] as children, teachers or school buildings become the targets of attacks. Parents fear sending their children to school. Girls are particularly vulnerable to sexual violence.
    Women face sexual discrimination in the workplace.
  3. Of or relating to sexuality; not asexual.
    She's a very sexual woman;  a sexual innuendo.
    • 1994, Purity & passion (ISBN 0802471307), page 67:
      We don't often think of Jesus as a sexual person, but He certainly was not asexual. He was not just God on earth. He was fully human and [] He was sexual, single, and celibate.
  4. Of or relating to sexual orientations, sexual identity or preferences with respect to sexual intercourse
    sexual preferences

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Descendants

See also

  • Wikisaurus:sexual intercourse

Noun

sexual (plural sexuals)

  1. (biology) A species which reproduces by sexual rather than asexual reproduction, or a member of such a species.
  2. (LGBT) A person who experiences sexual attraction, a person who has interest in or desire for sex (especially as contrasted with an asexual).

Antonyms

External links

  • sexual in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
  • sexual in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911

Asturian

Etymology

From Latin sexualis.

Adjective

sexual (epicene, plural sexuales)

  1. sexual

Catalan

Etymology

From Latin sexualis.

Adjective

sexual m, f (masculine and feminine plural sexuals)

  1. sexual

Portuguese

Etymology

From Latin sexualis.

Pronunciation

Adjective

sexual m, f (plural sexuais, comparable)

  1. sexual

Inflection


Romanian

Etymology

From Latin sexualis.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): [seksuˈal]

Adjective

sexual m, n (feminine singular sexuală, masculine plural sexuali, feminine and neuter plural sexuale)

  1. sexual

Declension


Spanish

Etymology

From Latin sexualis.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /seˈksual/
  • Rhymes: -al

Adjective

sexual m, f (plural sexuales)

  1. sexual