sexualsex‧u‧al /ˈsekʃuəl/ ●●● S3 W2 AWL adjective 
a disease passed on by sexual contact allegations of sexual abuse her first sexual experience Many elderly people continue to have satisfying sexual relationships.2relating to the social relationships between men and women, especially the differences between men and women: sexual stereotypes—sexually adverb: young people who are sexually active (=who regularly have sex) I no longer found her sexually attractive. She had been sexually assaulted.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Sexual inequality exists, to some degree, in every society.
- sexual relationships
- sexual reproduction
- Birds have developed a sexual difference in the colours of their feathers.
- Dr Ruth offers advice on sexual problems.
- He had to admit that his feelings for her were mostly sexual.
- Herpes is a disease passed on by sexual contact.
- It's important to take your partner's sexual needs into consideration.
- Men say that they are confused by today's sexual politics in the workplace.
- All this was to feed into the stream of sexual radicalism in the early twentieth century.
- Californians voted heavily against recognising gay marriages in what was widely seen as a test of the state's sexual climate.
- The San Francisco that you have slowly and faithfully trained me to know and adore cares nothing for sexual orientation.
Longman Language Activatormale or female
someone's sex is whether they are male or female: · You have to put your name, age, and sex on the form.· You can now find out your baby's sex before it is born.· Eating disorders affect people of both sexes, not just girls.the same sex: · Are the twins the same sex?the opposite sex (=the sex which is not your own): · Rupert has never shown much interest in members of the opposite sex.sex discrimination (=unfair treatment of someone because of their sex): · Most women are confronted by sex discrimination at some time in their working lives.
someone's gender is whether they are male or female - used especially in writing about politics and society, or in job advertisements: · The job is open to any suitably qualified person regardless of age, gender, or race.gender distinction/difference/division (=a difference between men and women): · Sociologists believe that gender differences in voting will gradually disappear.gender bias/stereotyping (=treating someone in a particular way because of their gender): · an interesting study on gender bias in the classroom
relating to the differences between male and female or the characteristics of men or women: · Birds have developed a sexual difference in the colours of their feathers.sexual equality/inequality (=equality or inequality between men and women): · Sexual inequality exists, to some degree, in every society.sexual politics (=social and political behaviour and ideas relating to men and women): · Men say that they are confused by today's sexual politics in the workplace.
someone's sexual feelings, needs, or behaviour relating to sexual feelings or behaviour: · Dr Ruth offers advice on sexual problems.· It's important to take your partner's sexual needs into consideration.· He had to admit that his feelings for her were mostly sexual.
someone's sexual feelings or needs, that are part of their basic character: · Teenagers are often confused about their sexuality, for example whether they are gay or straight.female/male sexuality: · She has written a fascinating book on female sexuality.somebody's sexuality: · Gradually he came to understand and accept his own sexuality.
someone's desire to have sex - use this especially to talk about how strong or weak this is: · These drugs may affect your sex drive.· For many men, having a powerful sex drive is essential to their confidence.
a very strong feeling of wanting to have sex with someone, because you think they are very beautiful or sexually attractive - used especially in literature: · As she held him close she was filled with desire.· When she was drunk she could hardly contain her sexual desires.desire for: · The smell of her perfume was enough to awaken his desire for her.
a very strong feeling of wanting to have sex with someone - use this when you are showing that someone's feeling is only physical and does not involve love: · These were not feelings of love but of lust, pure and simple.· He was a man possessed by greed, jealousy and lust.
someone's need to have sex - use this especially in medical contexts: · Drinking too much often results in a loss of libido.· Most doctors agree that a suppressed libido is often associated with emotional and psychological problems.
to have sex with someone · Teenagers should be taught to think carefully before having sex.have sex with · Would you have sex with someone on your first date?· He's never had sex with anyone but his wife.
the act of having sex with someone: · She had no interest in sex after the baby was born.safe sex (=methods of protecting yourself against sexual disease while you are having sex): · Some people ignore advice about safe sex and do not wear condoms.sex education (=teaching young people about sex): · a refreshing and unusual approach to sex education
if two people make love , they have sex because they like or love each other: · All day they made love on the unmade bed.make love with/to: · She thought about Tom Cruise every time she made love with her boyfriend.
to have sex with someone you are not married to, especially regularly and over a period of time: · She's been sleeping with this guy Mark since the summer.· When did you first find out that Betty and your husband were sleeping together?
to have sex with someone on one occasion, especially because they ask you or persuade you to do so: · I remember the first time we went to bed.go to bed with: · He said he'd give me the job if I went to bed with him.
formal to have sex with someone - used especially in medical or legal contexts: · The doctor asked him when he had last had intercourse.· You are strongly advised to wear a condom while having sexual intercourse.have (sexual) intercourse with: · The victim later claimed that her attacker forced her to have sexual intercourse with him.
especially British, informal to have sex with someone - used especially humorously: · To hear him talk, you'd think he's shagged every woman in town!· All she ever thinks about is shagging.
British informal to have sex with someone - used humorously: · They said she'd bonked every man in college.· My mother walked in and caught us bonking.
to have sex for the first time in your life: · I lost my virginity at the age of seventeen.lose your virginity to: · She had lost her virginity to a law student while at university.
if birds or animals mate , they have sex in order to produce babies: · The birds mate in April and the eggs are hatched by June.a mating call/dance/ritual (=something an animal does when it wants to mate): · Two pigeons performed an elaborate and very noisy mating dance.the mating season/period (=the time of year when animals mate): · During the mating season, foxes become much more vocal.
formal when you have sex with someone - used especially in legal contexts: · Love has nothing to do with sexual relations.sexual relations between: · In most cultures, sexual relations between adults and children are totally unacceptable.
WORD SETSabdicate, verbaffirmative action, nounage discrimination, nounageism, nounalienation, nounalmshouse, nounbackground, nounbeatnik, nounbeggar, nounbetterment, nounbirthrate, nounbohemian, adjectivebondage, nouncarer, nouncaretaker, nouncase work, nouncaste, nouncity planning, nouncommoner, nounconditioning, nounconsumer society, nounculture, noundisease, noundosser, noundoss house, noundown-and-out, noundownwardly mobile, adjectiveeuthanasia, nounformative, adjectivegenteel, adjectivegentlefolk, noungentleman, noungentlewoman, noungentry, noungeriatric, adjectivegerontology, noungrey, adjectivehermit, nounhierarchy, nounhippie, nounHonourable, adjectiveindependence, nounindustrialism, nouninequality, nouninfrastructure, nouninner city, nouninstitution, nouninstitutionalize, verbintegrate, verbliteracy, nounlower class, nounlow life, nounmatrix, nounmeritocracy, nounmobile, adjectivemores, nounmortality, nounNew Age traveller, nounorder, nounoutreach, nounpatriarchy, nounpecking order, nounpeer pressure, nounpetty bourgeois, adjectiveplebeian, nounpolitics, nounprogress, nounrank, nounreaction, nounrear, verbreceive, verbredneck, nounrevolution, nounsecularism, nounservice, nounsexual, adjectivesister, nounslave, nounslavery, nounsnowbird, nounsocial, adjectivesocial, nounsocialization, nounsocial science, nounsocial studies, nounsocial work, nounsocial worker, nounsociety, nounsocio-, prefixsocioeconomic, adjectivesoup kitchen, nounstratified, adjectivestratum, nounstreet people, nounsubgroup, nounsuburbanite, nounsuburbia, nounsupport group, nountownie, nountown meeting, nountown planning, nountownspeople, nountramp, noununattached, adjectiveuncle, noununconventional, adjectiveunderclass, nounupwardly mobile, adjectivewhite-collar, adjectiveworking class, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY young people who are sexually active (=who regularly have sex)COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Many children suffer racial abuse at school. The witness said that he ‘went berserk’ when she rejected his sexual advances. casual sexual encounters (=occasions when people have sex) The film industry thrives on the sexual exploitation of women. He lacks the emotional maturity to appreciate poetry. sexual morality They suffered years of political oppression. football songs with violent overtones sexual repression sexual reproduction the biggest social revolution we have had in this country the sexual revolution of the 1960s
young people who are sexually active (=who regularly have sex) Many children suffer racial abuse at school. The witness said that he ‘went berserk’ when she rejected his sexual advances.· Women who have suffered serious sexual assault are offered support and counselling.
· There was no indication of a sexual attack.
· a survey of human sexual behaviour
· The politician’s sexual conduct had caused scandal.
(also gender discrimination formal)· She claimed she’d been the victim of sex discrimination.
casual sexual encounters (=occasions when people have sex)· The minister is a well-known campaigner for racial equality.
The film industry thrives on the sexual exploitation of women. (=what you normally do in sexual relationships)· a survey of the sexual habits of gay men
(=because of someone’s sex or race) We need effective strategies to combat sexual harassment in the workplace.
We need effective strategies to combat sexual harassment in the workplace.· The programme aims to educate teenagers about sexual health.
(=jealousy caused by sexual desire)· Sexual jealousy is a common motive for murder.
· Venus was the Roman goddess of sexual love.
He lacks the emotional maturity to appreciate poetry. sexual morality· Sexual obsessions can take many forms.
They suffered years of political oppression.· the male and female sexual organs
football songs with violent overtones· He admitted having a sexual relationship with a patient.
sexual repression sexual reproduction the biggest social revolution we have had in this country the sexual revolution of the 1960s· Feminists justifiably object to these sexual stereotypes.
· The old sexual taboos had disappeared.
· Most of us feel the biological urge to reproduce.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► sexual orientation► sexual preference
- How have relations between fellow workers changed in the flexible workplace?
WORD FAMILYnounsexsexismsexistsexualitysexinessbisexualbisexualityhomosexualhomosexualityadjectivesexistsexualbisexualhomosexualsexysexlessadverbsexuallysexilyverbsex
1relating to the physical activity of sex: a disease passed on by sexual contact allegations of sexual abuse her first sexual experience Many elderly people continue to have satisfying sexual relationships.2relating to the social relationships between men and women, especially the differences between men and women: sexual stereotypes—sexually adverb: young people who are sexually active (=who regularly have sex) I no longer found her sexually attractive. She had been sexually assaulted.- inconclusiveness
- incongruity
- incongruous
- incongruously
- inconsequential
- inconsequentially
- inconsiderable
- inconsiderate
- inconsiderately
- inconsistency
- inconsistent
- inconsolable
- inconsolably
- inconspicuous
- inconspicuously
- inconstancy
- inconstant
- incontestable
- incontinence
- incontinent
- incontrovertible
- incontrovertibly
- inconvenience
- inconvenient
- inconveniently