Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- adj. Of, relating to, involving, or characteristic of sex, sexuality, the sexes, or the sex organs and their functions.
- adj. Implying or symbolizing erotic desires or activity.
- adj. Relating to, produced by, or involving reproduction characterized by the union of male and female gametes: sexual reproduction.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- Of or pertaining to sex or the sexes in general: as, sexual characteristics.
- Distinctive of sex, whether male or female; peculiar to or characteristic of either sex; genital: as, sexual organs: the sexual system.
- Of the two sexes; done by means of the two sexes; reproductive: as, sexual intercourse; sexual reproduction.
- Peculiar to or affecting the sexes or organs of sex; venereal: as, sexual disease or malformation.
- Having sex: sexed; separated into two sexes; monœcious: the opposite of asexual: as a sexual animal.
- Such degree of affinity between the sexes of different species as enables these species to interbreed or hybridize.
- In botany, a system of classification founded on the distinction of sexes in plants, as male and female. Also called sexual method, artificial system, Linnean system. See Linnean.
Wiktionary
- adj. of or relating to having sex (as in verb phrase usage; e.g. sexual reproduction)
- adj. of or relating to the sex of an organism (as in concrete noun usage; e.g. male or female)
- adj. of or relating to sexuality (as in abstract noun usage; e.g. sexual behavior)
GNU Webster's 1913
- adj. 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.
WordNet 3.0
- adj. having or involving sex
- adj. involved in a sexual relationship
- adj. of or relating to or characterized by sexuality
Etymologies
- Late Latin sexuālis, from Latin sexus, sex.
Examples
“There's no denying there's a sexual aspect to it, uh, but it was less-the sexual aspect was less than actual sexual conduct and more directed toward the sex”
TEDBUNDY
“And so, after the first sexual encounter, gradually his sexual desire builds back up and joins, as it were, these other unfulfilled desires -- this other need to totally possess her, after she's passed out, as”
TEDBUNDY
“If we introduce two terms and call the person from whom the sexual attraction emanates the _sexual object_, and the action towards which the impulse strives the _sexual aim_, then the scientifically examined experience shows us many deviations in reference to both sexual object and sexual aim, the relations of which to the accepted standard require thorough investigation.”
“The boys were never properly questioned about whether there was a sexual motive in the killing as they became hysterical when the subject was brought up, but police were concerned that sexual abuse may have been committed.”
“And once again the term "sexual harassment" is being thrown around in a way that conveys a misleadingly broad definition.”
“Republican U.S. Senator Larry Craig, who wanted to give states even more rights to prevent gay marriage and voted against including the term "sexual orientation" in a hate crimes bill, resigned after he was caught soliciting gay sex in an airport bathroom.”
“Even 20 years after Justice Thomas joined the Supreme Court, and Americans heard the term sexual harassment'' in televised hearings featuring his accuser, Anita Hill, his confirmation remains a painful chapter in the nation's history because of its mix of race, sex and the left-right political chasm.”
“Currently, the term sexual assault is used instead.”
“Pakistan's ambassador went further, telling diplomats he preferred the term "sexual disorientation.”
“Muslim countries balked, saying they couldn't accept any reference to the term "sexual orientation.”
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘sexual’.
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Academic Vocabulary
Use these and get promoted
abandon, abandonment, abnormally, abstract, abstraction, abstractly, abstracts, academia, academic, academically, academics, academies and 3092 more...
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Skywriting by Word of Mouth
Candid!
neurotic, content, enlightenment, disembodied, perpetual, grin, eloquence, demented, sexual, fantasy
qroqqa Models developed by population geneticist Sally Otto . . . suggest that under most circumstances a diverse population of clones, which accumulate differences over time as a result of mutations, outperforms sexuals.
—New Scientist, 13 June 2009
'Sexual' used as noun, contrasted with 'clone'. Jun 15, 2009