Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense sexes, present participle sexing, past tense, past participle sexed
1. countable noun
The two sexes are the two groups, male and female, into which people and animals are divided according to the function they have in producing young.
...an entertainment star who appeals to all ages and both sexes.
...differences between the sexes.
Synonyms: gender More Synonyms of sex
2. See also fair sex, opposite sex, same-sex, single-sex
3. countable noun [oft with poss]
The sex of a person or animal is their characteristic of being either male or female.
She continually failed to gain promotion because of her sex.
The new technique has been used to identify the sex of foetuses. [+ of]
...sex discrimination.
4. uncountable noun
Sex physical activity between people that involves the sexual organs.
He was very open in his attitudes about sex.
The entire film revolves around sex and violence.
We have a very active sex life.
Synonyms: lovemaking, sexual relations, copulation, the other [informal] More Synonyms of sex
5. verb [usually passive]
If an animal is sexed, someone finds out whether it is male or female.
The birds must be weighed, sexed and tagged. [beVERB-ed]
6.
See have sex
Phrasal verbs:
See sex up
More Synonyms of sex
sex in British English
(sɛks)
noun
1.
the sum of the characteristics that distinguish organisms on the basis of their reproductive function
2.
either of the two categories, male or female, into which organisms are placed on this basis
3. short for sexual intercourse
4.
feelings or behaviour resulting from the urge to gratify the sexual instinct
5.
sexual matters in general
modifier
6.
of or concerning sexual matters
sex education
sex hygiene
7.
based on or arising from the difference between the sexes
sex discrimination
verb
8. (transitive)
to ascertain the sex of
Word origin
C14: from Latin sexus; compare secāre to divide
sex- in British English
combining form
six
sexcentennial
Word origin
from Latin
six in British English
(sɪks)
noun
1.
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
See also number (sense 1)
2.
a numeral, 6, VI, etc, representing this number
3.
something representing, represented by, or consisting of six units, such as a playingcard with six symbols on it
4. Also called: six o'clock
six hours after noon or midnight
5. Also called: sixer cricket
a.
a stroke in which the ball crosses the boundary without bouncing
b.
the six runs scored for such a stroke
6.
a division of a Brownie Guide or Cub Scout pack
7. at sixes and sevens
8. knock someone for six
9. six of one and half a dozen of the other
determiner
10.
a.
amounting to six
six nations
b.
(as pronoun)
set the table for six
▶ Related prefixes: , hexa-, sex-
sex- in American English
(sɛks)
six
Word origin
< L sex, six
sex in American English1
(seks)
noun
1.
either the male or female division of a species, esp. as differentiated with reference to the reproductive functions
2.
the sum of the structural and functional differences by which the male and female are distinguished, or the phenomena or behavior dependent on these differences
3.
the instinct or attraction that leads individuals towards sexual reproduction or gratification
4.
sexual intercourse
5.
the genitalia
transitive verb
6.
to ascertain the sex of, esp. of newly-hatched chicks
7. See sex up
Word origin
[1350–1400; ME ‹ L sexus, perh. akin to secāre to divide ( see section)]
sex in American English2
(seks)
Latin
adjective
six
sex- in American English
prefix
a combining form, occurring in loanwords from Latin, meaning “six” (sexagenary); on this model used in the formation of compound words
sexpartite
Also: sexi-
Word origin
[‹ L, comb. form of sexsix]
Examples of 'sex' in a sentence
sex
It will all lead to trust and that really is the basis for good sex.
The Sun (2012)
We used to have a very active sex life.
The Sun (2014)
Lack of privacy can make a huge difference to how people feel about sex.
The Sun (2015)
In other languages
sex
British English: sex /sɛks/ NOUN
The sexes are the two groups, male and female, into which people and animals are divided.
This movie appeals to both sexes.
American English: sex
Arabic: جِنْس
Brazilian Portuguese: sexo
Chinese: 性别
Croatian: spol
Czech: pohlaví
Danish: køn
Dutch: sekse
European Spanish: sexo
Finnish: sukupuoli
French: sexe
German: Geschlecht
Greek: φύλο
Italian: sesso
Japanese: 性別
Korean: 성
Norwegian: sex
Polish: płeć
European Portuguese: sexo
Romanian: sex
Russian: пол совокупность признаков, связанных с размножением
Latin American Spanish: sexo
Swedish: kön
Thai: เพศ
Turkish: cinsiyet seks
Ukrainian: стать
Vietnamese: giới tính
All related terms of 'sex'
bi sex
sex with both male and female partners
sex up
To sex something up means to make it more interesting and exciting.
sex act
any act involving sexual stimulation
sex aid
A sex aid is an object or piece of equipment that is designed to make sex easier or better .
sex god
a man, esp a film star , whom many people consider to be sexually attractive
sex-mad
unhealthily obsessed with sexual activity
sex toy
A sex toy is an object that can be used to give sexual pleasure.
fair sex
If someone talks about the fair sex , they are referring to women in general.
group sex
sexual activity involving three or more people
have sex
If two people have sex , they perform the act of sex.
oral sex
Oral sex is sexual activity involving contact between a person's mouth and their partner's genitals.
phone sex
sexual activity carried out verbally by telephone
safe sex
Safe sex is sexual activity in which people protect themselves against sexually transmitted diseases, usually by using condoms.
same-sex
Same-sex people are the same sex as each other, or the same sex as a particular person.
sex abuse
if a child or other person suffers sexual abuse , someone forces them to take part in sexual activity with them, often regularly over a period of time
sex-crazy
unhealthily obsessed with sexual activity
sex drive
psychic energy emanating from the id
sex fiend
a person who commits sexual offences
sex life
If you refer to someone's sex life , you are referring to their sexual relationships and sexual activity.
sex organ
the sexual organs; the testicles and penis of a male or the labia , clitoris , and vagina of a female
sex scene
a scene in a movie that shows people having sex
sex shop
A sex shop is a shop that sells products associated with sex, for example magazines , films , and special clothing or equipment .
sex show
a live performance that customers pay to watch in which people perform sexual acts
sex tape
a recording of a sexual encounter , esp one involving a celebrity
sex-text
to send a text message of a sexual nature to (someone)
sex-typed
characterized as appropriate for or of one sex rather than the other
sex urge
psychic energy emanating from the id
gentler sex
→ the gentler sex
gentle sex
women in general
gourmet sex
lovemaking that is particularly passionate , enjoyable, and imaginative
sex abuser
a person who forces a child or other person to take part in sexual activity with them, often regularly over a period of time
sex addict
a person who is addicted to engaging in sexual activity
sex appeal
Someone's sex appeal is their sexual attractiveness.
sex change
a change in a person's physical sexual characteristics to those of the opposite sex , often achieved by surgery
sex clinic
a health centre where people can go for advice about sexual matters, contraception , sexually transmitted infections , etc
sex-crazed
unhealthily obsessed with sexual activity
sex goddess
If you refer to a woman, especially a film star, as a sex goddess , you mean that many people consider her to be sexually attractive.
sex hormone
an animal hormone affecting development and growth of reproductive organs and related parts
sex hygiene
practices undertaken in order to reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections
sex kitten
a sexually provocative young woman
sex-limited
of or designating a character or the gene producing it that appears in one sex only
sex linkage
the condition in which a particular gene is located on a sex chromosome , esp on the X-chromosome , so that the character controlled by the gene is associated with either of the sexes
sex maniac
a person who commits sexual offences
sex manual
a book which explains how to perform sexual intercourse and other sexual practices
sex object
If someone is described as a sex object , he or she is considered only in terms of their physical attractiveness and not their character or abilities .
sex partner
a person with whom you have had sex
sex-ridden
sexual in a rude and unpleasant way
sex-starved
deprived of sexual gratification
sex symbol
A sex symbol is a famous person, especially an actor or a singer, who is considered by many people to be sexually attractive.
sex therapy
treatment by counselling , behaviour modification , etc, for psychosexual and physical problems in sexual intercourse
Chinese translation of 'sex'
sex
(sɛks)
n
(c) (= gender) 性别(別) (xìngbié) (种(種), zhǒng)
(u) (= lovemaking) 性交 (xìngjiāo)
to have sex (with sb)(和某人)性交 ((hé mǒurén) xìngjiāo)
All related terms of 'sex'
oral sex
口交 kǒujiāo
safe sex
安全性交 ānquán xìngjiāo
same-sex
同性的 tóngxìng de
casual sex
随(隨)便的性行为(為) suíbiàn de xìngxíngwéi
unsafe sex
无(無)防范(範)措施的性行为(為) wú fángfàn cuòshī de xìngxíngwéi
sex education
性教育 xìngjiàoyù
unprotected sex
无(無)防范(範)措施的性行为(為) wú fángfàn cuòshī de xìngxíngwéi
sex/screen goddess
性感/银(銀)屏女神 xìnggǎn/yínpíng nǚshén
the opposite sex
异(異)性 yìxìng
under-age drinking/sex
未成年人的饮(飲)酒/性行为(為) wèichéngniánrén de yǐnjiǔ/xìng xíngwéi