sex

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   activities associated with sexual intercourse; most commonly referring to genital to genital insertive intercourse, but variously defined as including oral stimulation, non-insertive sex, and more

   They had decided that they both wanted to have sex.

2. 2
   noun

   the properties that distinguish organisms on the basis of their reproductive roles

   It doesn't matter what sex you are.

3. 3
   noun

   the feelings resulting from the urge to gratify sexual impulses

   We wanted a better sex life.

4. 4
   noun

   all the members of a gender as a group

   My sex is known for being difficult.

5. 5
   verb

   to determine the gender of animals

   I sexed the chickens into the right coops, to keep the roosters isolated.

6. 6
   verb

   to stimulate sexually

   I decided to sex the party up by dancing.

7. 7
   noun

   genitalia

   My sex is something I'd never show in public.

8. 8
   noun

   the female gender

   The sex of Venice are undoubtedly of a distinguished beauty.

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…