Etimology
From Middle English sexe (“gender”), from Old French sexe (“genitals; gender”), from Latin sexus (“gender; gender traits; males or females; genitals”), from Proto-Italic *seksus, from Proto-Indo-European *séksus, from *sek- (“to cut, cut off, sever”), thus meaning "section, division" (into male and female). Usage for women influenced by Middle French le sexe (“women”) (attested in 1580). Usage for third and additional sexes calqued from French troisième sexe, referring to masculine women in 1817 and homosexuals in 1847. First used by Lord Byron and others in English in reference to Catholic clergy. Usage for sexual intercourse first attested in 1900 (in the writings of H.G. Wells).
noun
sex (countable and uncountable, plural sexes)
(countable) A category into which sexually-reproducing organisms are divided on the basis of their reproductive roles in their species.
(countable) Another category, especially of humans and especially based on sexuality or gender roles.
(countable) The members of such a category, taken collectively.
(uncountable) The distinction and relation between these categories, especially in humans; gender.
(obsolete or literary, uncountable, with "the") Women; the human female gender and those who belong to it.
(uncountable) Sexual activity, usually sexual intercourse unless preceded by a modifier.
(countable, euphemistic or slang) Genitalia: a penis or vagina.
Examples
The effect of the medication is dependent upon age, sex, and other factors.
The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.
I would never have guessed […] that slime molds can have thirteen sexes.
Still there are some loop-holes out of which a man may creep, and dare to think and act for himself; but for a woman it is an herculean task, because she has difficulties peculiar to her sex to overcome, which require almost super-human powers.
"But now another sex, in arms, is brought, / And, realms to guard, are eunuchs able thought!"
A black old neutral personage / Of the third sex stept up.
I have encountered officers who believe a woman got a better assignment or somehow "got over" because of her sex.
It was a weakness / In me, but incident to all our sex.
The sensibility of the female sex appears […] to be greater than that of the male.
A lot of women now like men to pay for them on dates... We've dealt with the outdated view of sex underpinning this.
The sex of Venice are undoubtedly of a distinguished beauty.
I was not, however, better than my neighbors; the Sex had its charms for me as it had for others; But there always remained a sting, that time only wore away.
Even the reptile temperament of Noel Vanstone warmed under the influence of the sex: he had an undeniably appreciative eye for a handsome woman, and Magdalen's grace and beauty were not thrown away on him.
We marry in fear and trembling, sex for a home is the woman's traffic, and the man comes to his heart's desire when his heart's desire is dead.
If you want to have sex, you've got to trust / At the core of your heart, the other creature.
who abstain from sex
Why wasn't Bond ‘more tender’ in his love-making? Why did he just ‘have sex’ and disappear?
It wouldn't work with you... Sex, I mean. You're... easy to be with. You're... you're not dangerous. You're my best friend, John. I couldn't have it on with my best friend, John. It would be embarrassing. Sorry. Honest.
Another ha's gon through with the bargain... One that will find the way to her Sex, before you'le come to kissing her hand.
And the black cypresses strained upwards like the sex of a hanged man.
She touched his sex with her hand.
And he put in a fake sex because he wanted to make the scene more real, more rude.
Related words
synonyms
(divisions of organisms by reproductive role): gender (proscribed when referring to humans: see usage note)
(copulation): See also Thesaurus:copulation
hypernyms
See species
hyponyms
(usual): See male and female
(in some contexts): See bigender, transgender, genderless, intersex, genderfluid, homosexual, eunuch
(jocular, now uncommon): See clergy
related terms
sexual
sexualiation
sexualise
sexuality
sexualization
sexualize
sexually
verb
sex (third-person singular simple present sexes, present participle sexing, simple past and past participle sexed)
(zoology, transitive) To determine the sex of (an animal).
(chiefly US, colloquial, transitive) To have sex with.
(chiefly US, colloquial, intransitive) To have sex.
Examples
If we sex the cattle, which is the only way to get at their value, we shall have... 400 cows, 200 yearling heifers.
The ability to sex birds invasively through laparoscopy initially solved that problem, but now it is even easier and less stressful on the birds through testing the DNA of their feathers or blood.
Semen usually is sexed at 90% accuracy, and the sexes of calves at birth almost always are in that statistical range if averaged over […]
As good as Muddah had handled me in bed, sexing her hadn't done a damn thing to take my mind off my cousin Smoove.
He shows some glimpses, but most of the released singles are about flossing, partying, and sexing women.
Sex with Ivory had gotten better than sexing his wife. Herschel laughed with Ivory, cried with Ivory. They dreamt aloud together. Unlike Nikki, Ivory believed in him. Every man needed a woman who believed in him.
"Do you ever think about how you're betraying your client while you're sexing his wife?"
Wosick-Correa, K. R., 81 Joseph, L. J. Sexy ladies sexing ladies: Women as consumers in strip clubs. Journal of Sex Research, 45, 3 , 201-216.
His body shook uncontrollably as he imagined another man sexing his wife.
The last thing a jealous husband wants to think about is another man sexing his wife when he's dead and gone.
Sexing his wife anally would remind him of having sex with Baron.
The neighbor guy, I just came to understand, is sexing the lady across the street from him. He's got a girlfriend. She is married. While I don't think that is particularly cool, I also don't think it is any of my business either.
Our baby is eighteen months old now, and cries when we sex
Related words
synonyms
(to have sex): do it, get it on, have sex; see also Thesaurus:copulate
Etimology
From sect.
noun
sex (plural sexes)
(obsolete) Alternative form of sect.