copulation
/ˌkɒpjʊˈleɪʃ(ə)n
/noun [mass noun]
Sexual intercourse: males may seek copulation with the breeding female...
- Same-sex copulation and bonding are common in hundreds of species, from bonobo apes to gulls.
- In the laboratory, golden egg bugs copulate repeatedly, with copulations often lasting [greater than] 10 hours.
- According to law you've got to disclose such a fact prior to copulation.
Synonyms
sexual intercourse, sex, intercourse, lovemaking, making love, sexual relations, sexual/vaginal/anal penetration;
mating, coupling, breeding
informal nooky
British informal bonking, rumpy pumpy, a bit of the other, how's your father
South African informal pata-pata
vulgar slang screwing, fucking
British vulgar slang shagging
formal coitus, coition, fornication
archaic carnal knowledge, congress, commerce