testicle

C2+ Topic:General Vocabulary

US /ˈtɛstɪkəl/ UK /ˈtɛstɪkəl/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

noun
either of the two oval male reproductive glands that produce sperm

The doctor advised regular self-examination of each testicle for early detection.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · either of the two oval male... testis gonad ball nut

Word family

Derived forms testicular

Related forms testistestosterone

Simplified etymology

Testicle comes from Latin testiculus, formed from testis, “witness.” The Romans regarded the testicles as witnesses or proof of a man’s sex and virility. The same Latin root also produced attest, testify, protest, detest, and intestate.

Etymology

From Latin testiculus, diminutive of testis ('testicle'), which also meant 'witness' (a witness to virility), from Proto-Indo-European *tri-st-i- ('third party standing by').

testiculus Latin testis Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

General Vocabulary

External links

# testicle

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈtɛstɪkəl/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈtɛstɪkəl/

## Meanings
1. either of the two oval male reproductive glands that produce sperm

## Examples
- The doctor advised regular self-examination of each testicle for early detection.

## Synonyms
- testis
- gonad
- ball
- nut

## Derived Forms
- testicular

## Related Forms
- testis
- testosterone

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: testiculus
- Root: testis

## Etymology
From Latin testiculus, diminutive of testis ('testicle'), which also meant 'witness' (a witness to virility), from Proto-Indo-European *tri-st-i- ('third party standing by').

## AI Etymology
Testicle is from Latin testiculus, diminutive of testis ('testicle'), which also meant 'witness' (a witness to virility), from Proto-Indo-European *tri-st-i- ('third party standing by'). Important recorded forms include testiculus (Latin) and testis (Latin). The modern sense continues the older lexical line without requiring a separate origin. In current use it covers either of the two oval male reproductive glands that produce sperm. The wider family includes derived forms such as testicular and related words such as testis and testosterone.

## Topics
- General Vocabulary

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