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Sex

Definition: Sex

Sex

Noun

1. Activities associated with sexual intercourse; "they had sex in the back seat".

2. Either of the two categories (male or female) into which most organisms are divided; "the war between the sexes".

3. All of the feelings resulting from the urge to gratify sexual impulses; "he wanted a better sex life"; "the film contained no sex or violence".

4. The properties that distinguish organisms on the basis of their reproductive roles; "she didn't want to know the sex of the foetus".

Verb

1. Stimulate sexually; "This movie usually arouses the male audience".

2. Tell the sex (of young chickens).

Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
 

Date "sex" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1321. (references)

Etymology: Sex \Sex\, noun. [Latin sexus: compare to French sexe.]. (references)

 

Specialty Definition: Sex

DomainDefinition

Computing

SEX /seks/ [Sun Users' Group & elsewhere] n. 1. Software EXchange. A technique invented by the blue-green algae hundreds of millions of years ago to speed up their evolution, which had been terribly slow up until then. Today, SEX parties are popular among hackers and others (of course, these are no longer limited to exchanges of genetic software). In general, SEX parties are a Good Thing, but unprotected SEX can propagate a virus. See also pubic directory. 2. The rather Freudian mnemonic often used for Sign EXtend, a machine instruction found in the PDP-11 and many other architectures. The RCA 1802 chip used in the early Elf and SuperElf personal computers had a `SEt X register' SEX instruction, but this seems to have had little folkloric impact. The Data General instruction set also had `SEX'. DEC's engineers nearly got a PDP-11 assembler that used the `SEX' mnemonic out the door at one time, but (for once) marketing wasn't asleep and forced a change. That wasn't the last time this happened, either. The author of "The Intel 8086 Primer", who was one of the original designers of the 8086, noted that there was originally a `SEX' instruction on that processor, too. He says that Intel management got cold feet and decreed that it be changed, and thus the instruction was renamed `CBW' and `CWD' (depending on what was being extended). Amusingly, the Intel 8048 (the microcontroller used in IBM PC keyboards) is also missing straight `SEX' but has logical-or and logical-and instructions `ORL' and `ANL'. The Motorola 6809, used in the Radio Shack Color Computer and in U.K.'s `Dragon 32' personal computer, actually had an official `SEX' instruction; the 6502 in the Apple II with which it competed did not. British hackers thought this made perfect mythic sense; after all, it was commonly observed, you could (on some theoretical level) have sex with a dragon, but you can't have sex with an apple. Source: Jargon File.

Census

An individual's gender classification - male or female. (references)

Diversity

System of sexual classification based on biological and physical differences, such as primary and secondary sexual characteristics, forming the categories "male" and "female" as opposed to gender which is based on the social constrcution of the categories "men" and "women." (references)

Literature

Sex (See Gender Words .). Source: Brewer's Dictionary.

Medicine

The biological characteristics which distinguish human beings as female or male. Source: European Union. (references)
 The sum of the characteristics that distinguish organisms on the basis of their reproductive function. Source: European Union. (references)

Multilingual Slang

English (nookey ). (references)

Slang

Nookey, fuck, get laid, boink, diddle, fuck, get it on, rumpshaker. (references)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Specialty Definition: Gender

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

The word gender is derived from the Old French word genre, meaning "kind of thing". It has several meanings in modern usage:

Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Gender."

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Human sexual behavior

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

Sexual behavior is a form of physical intimacy that can be directed to reproduction (sexual intercourse) and/or to enjoying the body of someone else.

There is no clear borderline between sexual and nonsexual enjoyment of touching someone else's body. For example, holding hands may or may not have a sexual connotation, depending on culture, situation and other factors. The distinction between sexual and nonsexual behavior can be relevant due to social rules.

Some criteria that may be applied are:

While enjoying touching the body of someone else implies enjoying one's own body also, the latter may also happen without another person; enjoying one's own body also may or may not be of a sexual nature. If it is, it is called autoerotism.

Some forms of sex involve someone else, but not touching the other:

The whole of one's sexual activities is called one's sex life.

Consenting noncommercial sexual behavior between people usually implies some kind of emotional bond, at least during the sex. Opinions and norms vary about whether a certain intensity and durability of this bond should be a prerequisite for sex (see also below).

Like other primates, Homo sapiens uses sexuality for reproduction and for maintenance of social bonds. It is generally acknowledged that children are capable of feeling sexual pleasure, even if they are not yet able to engage in sexual intercourse with each other, and/or are not yet biologically able to reproduce. Yet, child sexuality has historically been severely limited in western societies; in the late 19th century, the hysteria surrounding so-called "self-abuse" (masturbation) among children reached its peak and fueled the adoption of circumcision in some cultures.

As with other behaviors, our high intelligence and complex societies have produced in us the most complicated sexual behaviors of any animal.

Most people enjoy some sexual activities. However, most societies have defined some sexual activities as inappropriate (wrong person, wrong activity, wrong time, etc.) Many sexual activities can be engaged in by same sex or opposite sex partners. However some, (most notably sexual intercourse), can only be engaged in by partners of opposite sexes.

Most people experiment with a range of sexual activities during their lives, though they tend to engage in only a few of these regularly. Some people enjoy many different sexual activities, while others avoid sexual activities altogether for religious or other reasons (see chastity, sexual abstinence). There is also a widespread belief that sex acts are devalued when engaged in outside of a long-term, monogamous romantic relationship.

Sexual behavior, like other kinds of social activity, is generally governed by rules of etiquette which are culturally specific and vary widely (see sexual morality, sexual norms).

Some activities are actually illegal in some jurisdictions even between (or among) consenting people (see sodomy law, incest).

Some people engage in various sexual activities as a business transaction; this is called prostitution.

Nearly all cultures consider it a serious crime to force someone to engage in sexual behavior or to engage in sexual behavior with someone who does not consent. This is called sexual assault, and in the case of sexual intercourse it is called rape, the most serious kind of sexual assault. Details on this distinction may vary. Also, precisely what constitutes effective consent to have sex varies from culture to culture and is frequently debated. Laws regulating what constitutes consent, including the minimum age at which a person can consent to have sex, are frequently the subject of debate; see age of consent.

The wide range of human sexual activities includes:

Generally less common, but still widespread, are the various paraphilias. Some of the more common ones are: Other special forms of human sexual behaviour: All sexual behaviors that involve the contact of semen with the vagina or vulva may result in pregnancy. To prevent pregnancy, people employ a variety of birth control measures.

All sexual behaviors that involve contact with another person or the body fluids of another person entail some risk of transmission of sexually transmitted diseases, which is why safer sex techniques are recommended.

Sexual desire or libido is the desire for sexual behavior. See also sexual orientation.

Many people enjoy fantasizing about, or reading or viewing depictions of, sexual fantasies of activities that they do not wish to engage in in their own lives, or that they would be unable to engage in in their own lives (see pornography and erotica).

See also: sex, human sexuality, child sexuality, sexual orientation, gender and sexuality studies, obstetrics and gynecology, sexual arousal, pornography, X-rated, Sexual ritual, Love-shyness, Sex positivity.

External links

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Human sexuality

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

Like other primates, Homo sapiens uses sexuality for reproduction and maintenance of social bonds.

The complexity of sexual behaviors in humans is produced by our high intelligence and complex societies, rather than being governed almost entirely by instinct as in most other animals. However, instinct remains the main driver of human sexual behavior, even if its form and expression is dependent on culture and personal choice; this leads to a highly complex range of sexual behaviors.

Human sexuality has aspects relating to health, pleasure, and social interactions such as legal and religious taboos.

See also: abortion, Age of consent, sexism, Gender and sexuality studies, gender paradigm, Marriage, flirting

Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Human sexuality."

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Sex

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

The members of many species of living things are divided into two or more categories called sexes. These categories refer to complementary groups that combine genetic material in order to reproduce. This process is called sexual reproduction. Typically, a species will have two sexes: male and female The female sex is defined as the one that produces the larger gamete (i.e., reproductive cell).

Fungi and some other organisms exist in more than two sexes, but still reproduce in pairs (any two differing sexes can reproduce). Some species, such as earthworms, honeybees, and geckos, are capable of both sexual and asexual reproduction. All the members of some species are hermaphrodites, that is, individuals that contain both sexes in one body.

The word sex is also used as an abbreviation to refer to sexual intercourse (the physical acts related to sexual reproduction) and other human sexual behavior, but this article will discuss the concept of sex defined above.

In mammals, birds, and many other species, sex is determined by the sex chromosomes, called X and Y in mammals, and Z and W in birds. Males typically have one of each (XY), while females typically have two X chromosomes (XX). All individuals have at least one X chromosome, the Y chromosome is generally shorter than the X chromosome with which it is paired, and is absent in some species, this pattern admitting some considerable variation. In other species, including crocodiles, and most insects, sex may be determined by various other sex-determination systems, including those controlled by environmental factors such as temperature, or controlled by age.

Intersexuals are the small minority of people who were born with bodies that are difficult to assign to the traditional "male" and "female" categories because they have both genitalia, are of indeterminate sex, or combine features of both sexes. In some cases, individuals have had, e.g., a chromosomal sex of XY but primary sexual characteristics (external genitalia, etc.) of females, and have been raised as females, only to have been discovered in adulthood to be genetically male. Despite the fact that these individuals had an underlying biological sex that was of one kind, and an apparent sex that was its opposite, in many cases the individuals as well as members of their families and communities accepted their incorrect sex determination. Such complex situations have led some scientists to argue that the two sexes are cultural constructions. Some people have sought to define their sexuality and sexual identity in non-polar terms in the belief that the simple division of all humans into "males" and "females" does not fit their individual conditions.

As part of this movement away from polar oppositions, Anne Fausto-Sterling once suggested a classification of five sexes (male, female, merm, ferm and herm). Advocates for intersexual people stated that this theory is confusing and unhelpful to the interests of intersexual people, and she has since ceased to advocate this nomenclature.

Many social scientists use "sex" to refer to the biological division into male and female, and "gender" to refer to gender roles assigned to people on the basis of their apparent sex and/or other contingent factors. (See, for instance, berdache, hijra, and xanith.) There is tremendous variation of cultural attitudes, both between and within societies, toward sex, sexuality, and gender roles. It is interesting, and perhaps significant, that some societies identify youths with atypical behavioral characteristics and, instead of giving them corrective therapy or punishing them, socialize them in such a way that their individual characteristics let them provide a needed and/or useful function for the society in a recognized and respected role. (See, for example, shaman, medicine man, tong-ki.)

See the article Pictogram for an example of a pictogram of a man and a woman, to indicate the respective toilets. It shows the man with broader shoulders (sex dimorphism) and the woman in clothing that is in the western world rarely worn by men, a dress (which functions as a gender signal). (Presumably these "male human" and "female human" pictograms are not used in countries where men wear dress-like clothing.) In most societies, it as considered improper for a person of one sex to misrepresent himself or herself as a member of the opposite sex by donning inappropriate clothing (thereby practicing transvestism or, colloquially, cross-dressing). Such behavior receives severe social and/or legal sanctions in some cultures.

See also:

External link

Further reading

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SEX (computers)

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

SEX is the assembly language mnemonic often used for Sign EXtend, a machine instruction found in the PDP-11 and many other architectures. The RCA 1802 chip used in the early Elf and SuperElf personal computers had a "SEt X register" SEX instruction, but this seems to have had little folkloric impact.

DEC's engineers nearly got a PDP-11 assembler that used the "SEX" mnemonic out the door at one time, but (for once) marketing wasn't asleep and forced a change. That wasn't the last time this happened, either. The author of "The Intel 8086 Primer", who was one of the original designers of the Intel 8086, noted that there was originally a "SEX" instruction on that processor, too. He says that Intel management got cold feet and decreed that it be changed, and thus the instruction was renamed "CBW" and "CWD" (depending on what was being extended). The Intel 8048 (the microcontroller used in IBM PC keyboards) is also missing straight "SEX" but has logical-or and logical-and instructions "ORL" and "ANL".

The Motorola 6809, used in Radio Shack's TRS-80 Color Computer and UK's "Dragon 32" personal computer, actually had an official "SEX" instruction; the 6502 in the Apple II with which it competed did not. British hackers thought this made perfect mythic sense; after all, it was commonly observed, you could (on some theoretical level) have sex with a dragon, but you can't have sex with an apple. Based on SEX from the Jargon File.

Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "SEX (computers)."

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Sex in science fiction

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

Modern science fiction frequently involves themes of sex, gender and sexuality. This was not always so. During the 1930s and 40s "golden age" of science fiction it was unusual to find males and females mentioned in the same paragraph, let alone having sex.

In spite of this, book covers for pulp science fiction often featured scantily clad women, often with guns or being menaced by aliens. In some ways, little has changed: many science fiction book covers still feature images of sexy women by artists such as Boris Vallejo and Frank Frazetta, although the images are perhaps somewhat less exploitative than before.

The New Wave science fiction of the 1960s and 1970s reflected its times by attempting to break earlier taboos about what could and could not be the subject of science fiction. The men's magazine Playboy published regular serious science fiction stories throughout this period, by both male and female authors, offering them significantly more scope than some other publications.

Two different themes emerged: one trying to explore the boundaries of what "sex" could mean in a world of altered humanity and reality, and another of exploring the position of women in science fiction and feminist issues in what had been traditionally a form of fiction written primarily by and for men.

Significant uses of sexual themes in serious science fiction include:

Some of the themes explored include: A number of works of mainstream erotica, including the Gor novels by John Norman, have also used the science fiction format. There is now a separate sub-genre of science fiction erotica that aims to integrate the two genres: writers in this genre include Cecilia Tan, whose small press Circlet Press caters especially to adult science fiction fans.

In recent years there has been a growing BDSM awareness in the science fiction and fan community.

Numerous science fiction television series and science fiction films have used science fiction plots as an excuse to fit in gratuitous sexual or fetishistic content: one of the conventions of much filmed science fiction appears to be that the future will be peopled exclusively by attractive people wearing skin-tight clothing in shiny materials. Nevertheless, some science fiction-themed TV shows, such as Farscape, have been acclaimed for their handling of such themes. The series Lexx features sexual themes in almost every episode.

See also:

External links:

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Sexism

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

Sexism as a belief can refer to three subtly different beliefs:

  1. The belief that one sex is superior to the other.
  2. The belief that men and women are very different and this should be strongly reflected in society, language, and the law.
  3. The belief that men and women are slightly different, besides superficial biological differences.

Most dictionaries regard the first two beliefs as sexist, but the third belief as generally not sexist. Some people, particularly masculists, hold that only the first belief is sexist. Most feminists also hold that the first belief is sexist. It has been suggested that some people who hold that all three beliefs are sexist in fact support laws which provide legal discrimination based on sex.

Sexism can also refer to simple hatred of men (misandry) or women (misogyny).

In practice, people's beliefs range along a continuum from the first position, which is the most sexist, to the third position, which is least sexist. For example, some people believe that women should have equal access to all jobs except a few religious positions. Others believe that while women are superior to men in a few aspects, in most aspects men are superior to women.

Sexist beliefs are a species of essentialism, which holds that individuals can be understood (and often judged) based on the characteristics of the group to which they belong, in this case, their sex group (male or female).

Sexism against women is often called chauvinism, though chauvinism is actually a wider term for any extreme and unreasoning partisanship on behalf of a group to which one belongs, especially when the partisanship includes malice and hatred towards a rival group.

While the view that women are superior to men is also sexism, only in recent years has an awareness of this "reverse sexism" begun developing in public discourse.

Sexual discrimination is illegal in many countries. Most countries have laws that give special rights or privileges to one sex. Some countries ban sex discrimination but still have preferential laws in their law books.

Language

Language plays a part in sexism, though it is disputed whether certain language causes sexism or sexism causes certain language (see the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis). At the most trivial level, sexist jokes play a part in the acts of many comedians, both male and female. Another example is non-sexist language - the avoidance of gender-specific job titles, non-parallel usage, and other language usages that are felt by some to be sexist. Opponents of such ideas often dismiss them as "political correctness gone mad".

See also: gender role, racism, triple oppression, penis envy

Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Sexism."

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Sexual intercourse

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

Broadly speaking, the term sexual intercourse may refer to any sexual activities between people, but it is commonly (and in this article) confined to the meaning of coitus or copulation, the insertion of the erect penis of the male into the vagina of the female. Sexual intercourse and masturbation are the two most common human sexual activities, with sexual intercourse being the primary step in procreation or reproduction.

The act

Sexual intercourse is usually preceded by foreplay which leads to sexual arousal of the partners, resulting in erection of the penis and natural lubrication of the vagina. The erect penis is inserted into the vagina and the partners move back and forth to stimulate themselves and each other usually to the point of ejaculation and orgasm. Sexual intercourse may be performed in a wide variety of positions, the most common ones being

Morality and legality

Various laws, moral rules and taboos surround sexual intercourse. See sexual morality for a detailed discussion.

Unlike some other sexual activities, sexual intercourse itself has rarely been made taboo on religious grounds or by government authorities. It is assumed that all of the cultures that entirely prohibited sexual intercourse no longer exist, such as the Shakers, an extinct sect of Christianity. Within some ideologies coitus has been considered the only "acceptable" sexual activity. Relatively strict designations of "appropriate" and "inappropriate" sexual intercourse have been almost universal in human societies. These have included prohibitions against specific positions, against intercourse among partners who are not married (this is called fornication) or are married, but not to each other (called adultery), against incest, and against intercourse during a woman's menstrual period.

Most countries have age of consent laws specifying the minimum legal age for engaging in sexual intercourse. Sexual intercourse with a person against their will, or without their informed legal consent, is called rape and is considered a serious crime in most cultures.

Biology

Coitus is the basic reproductive method of Homo sapiens as of all mammals. During ejaculation, which normally accompanies the male orgasm, a series of muscular contractions delivers semen containing male gametes known as sperm cells or spermatozoa into the vault of the vagina. The subsequent route of the semen is from the vault of the vagina, through the cervix and into the uterus, and thence into the fallopian tubes. Semen can survive up to nine days in the female body. When a fertile ovum from the female is present in the fallopian tubes, the male gamete joins with the ovum resulting in fertilization and the formation of a new embryo. When a fertilized ovum reaches the uterus, it becomes implanted in the lining of the uterus known as endometrium and a pregnancy begins.

Sexual intercourse should always be considered likely to result in pregnancy unless adequate contraceptive (birth control) measures are in force. Even then, pregnancy should be considered a possible outcome of the activity since few birth control measures are 100% effective. Coitus interruptus, or "withdrawal" of the penis from the vagina just before the man's orgasm, cannot be considered an effective method of contraception and is not recommended. Outercourse in which there is sexual activity without insertion can be performed without resulting in pregnancy provided that semen does not come in contact with the vulva.

Sexual intercourse, like other sexual activities which involve the possibility of transfer of body fluids, is also a means of propagating sexually transmitted diseases. Health care professionals suggest that condoms should be used to lessen the risk of contracting STDs, but they should by no means be considered an absolute safeguard. The best suggestion is to avoid sexual intercourse with anyone known to have a sexually transmissible disease, and, indeed, with anyone whose disease-negative status is in doubt.

Miscellaneous

The strong profanity to fuck means to copulate but is also used in several other senses.

See also

oral sex, anal intercourse, List of sex positions, pornography, prostitution, reproduction, sexual morality, sexology, Sex toy

Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Sexual intercourse."

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Synonyms: Sex

Synonyms: gender (n), sex activity (n), sexual activity (n), sexual practice (n), sexual urge (n), sexuality (n), arouse (v), excite (v), turn on (v), wind up (v). (additional references)

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Synonyms within Context: Sex

ContextSynonyms within Context (source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus).

Class

Kind, sort, genus, species, variety, family, order, kingdom, race, tribe, caste, sept, clan, breed, type, subtype, kit, sect, set, subset; assortment; feather, kidney; suit; range; gender, sex, kin.

Sexuality

Verb: mate, copulate; make love, have intercourse, fornicate, have sex, do it, sleep together, sleep around, play the field.

Sexual intercourse, copulation, mating, coitus, sex; lovemaking, marital relations, sexual union; sleeping together, carnal knowledge.

Sex instinct, sex drive, libido, lust, concupiscence;hots, horns; arousal, heat, rut, estrus, oestrus; tumescence; erection, hard-on, boner.

Noun: sex, sexuality, gender; male, masculinity, maleness; female, femininity .

Sex symbol, sex goddess; stud, hunk.

The Drama

Actor, thespian, player; method actor; stage player, strolling player; stager, performer; mime, mimer; artists; comedian, tragedian; tragedienne, Roscius; star, movie star, star of stage and screen, superstar, idol, sex symbol; supporting actor, supporting cast; ham, hamfatter; masker. pantomimist, clown harlequin, buffo, buffoon, farceur, grimacer, pantaloon, columbine; punchinello; pulcinello, pulcinella; extra, bit-player, walk-on role, cameo appearance; mute, figurante, general utility; super, supernumerary.

Woman

Womankind; the sex, the fair; fair sex, softer sex; weaker vessel.

Source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus.

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Crosswords: Sex

English words defined with "sex": primary sex character, primary sex characteristic ♦ secondary sex character, secondary sex characteristic, sex activity, sex appeal, sex character, sex characteristic, sex chromatin, sex chromosome, sex drive, sex hormone ♦ The fair sex, The sex. (references)
Specialty definitions using "sex": computer sex ♦ Hares shift their Sex ♦ sex attractant, Sex Attractants, sex changer, Sex Characteristics, Sex Differentiation, sex distribution, Sex Factors, Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin, sex linkage, Sex Manuals, Sex Preselection, sex tourist. (references)
Etymologies containing "sex": Transexion. (references)
Non-English Usage: "Sex" is also a word in the following languages with English translations in parentheses.

Czech (sex), Danish (sex), Dutch (sex), German (oomph, sex), Icelandic (six), Latin (Roman praenomen, Sextus, six), Norwegian (sex), Portuguese (sex), Romanian (gender, persuasion, sex), Swedish (sex, six).

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Modern Usage: Sex

DomainUsage

Screenplays

But all I really want to do is have sex with you as soon as possible (A Beautiful Mind; writing credit: Akiva Goldsman)

You're way too uptight about sex. (American Beauty; writing credit: Alan Ball)

It's sex! Sex is the game (Sleuth; writing credit: Anthony Shaffer)

Laney, sex is the quickest way to ruin a friendship (Reality Bites; writing credit: Ben Stiller, written by Helen Childress.)

Hey Leo, now that you're famous you'll get a lot more sex than anyone in your class (Deep Impact; writing credit: Bruce Joel Rubin; Michael Tolkin)

Lyrics

I wanna sex you up, (I Wanna Sex You Up; performing artist: Color Me Badd)

I smell sex and candy here (Sex and Candy; performing artist: Marcy Playground)

Pack a vest for your Jimmy in the city of sex (California Love; performing artist: 2 PAC)

Your ice, your gear, your sex appeal (I Do (Wanna Get Close To You); performing artist: 3LW)

Where your wife really love me cause the sex is so (Still Fly; performing artist: Big Tymers)

Clever

Sex without love is an empty gesture. But as empty gestures go, it is one of the best. (references; author: Woody Allen)

Sex Education Delayed, Teachers Request Training (references; author: unknown)

Definition of a teenager? God's punishment for enjoying sex. (references; author: unknown)

How to act insane: Ask people what sex they are. Laugh hysterically after they answer. (references; author: unknown)

Movie/TV Titles

Joy of Sex (1984)

Sex o no sex (1974)

3 x 3 Makes Sex (1974)

Vild på sex (1974)

Sex Play (1974)

Song Titles

I Want Your Sex (performing artist: George Michael)

Sex And Candy (performing artist: Marcy Playground)

Sex Is For Children (performing artist: The Roches)

Let's Talk About Sex (performing artist: Salt-N-Pepa)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Commercial Usage: Sex

DomainTitle

Books

  • Men, Sex and Relationships: Writings from Achilles Heel (Male Orders) (reference)

  • Intimate Issues: Conversations Woman to Woman: 21 Questions Christian Women Ask About Sex (reference)

  • Plane Insanity: A Flight Attendant's Tales of Sex, Rage, and Queasiness at 30,000 Feet (reference)

  • Dr. Tatiana's Sex Advice to All Creation (reference)

  • ABCs of Hormones: What You Need to Know About Melatonin, Dhea, Pregnenolone, Sex Hormones, Hgh, Insulin, Thyroid, and More (Good Health Guides) (reference)

    (more book examples)

  

Periodicals

  

Theater & Movies

  • Best of Sex Bytes (reference)

  • Sex,Love and Relationships:Abridged (reference)

  • The Secrets of Sacred Sex (reference)

  • Diary of a Sex Addict (reference)

  • Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex But Were Afraid to Ask (reference)

    (more DVD examples; more video examples)

  

Music

  

High Tech

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Image Slideshow: Sex

Photos:
Sex

More pictures...

Illustrations:
Sex

More pictures...

Computer Images:
Sex

More pictures...

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Photo Album: Sex

ThumbnailDescription & CreditThumbnailDescription & Credit

Bar graph showing AIDS cases by age and sex, reported 1981-1996, United States. Credit: CDC.

Line graph showing proportion of AIDS cases among men aged 13 years and older who have sex with men, by race/ethnicity and year of diagnosis--United States, 1989-1998. Credit: CDC.

The sex of a blue crab is determined by the shape of the "apron". The male apron, shown here, is shaped like a rocket. Females have either a "V" shape (immature) or a very wide apron with a small tip (mature.). Credit: America's Coastlines.

An immature female blue crab (Callinectes sapidus). Sex and maturity determined by the "V"-shaped apron. Credit: America's Coastlines.

Title page of "Meteorologicorum libri sex" by Libert Froidmont 1587-1653. Published in 1627. Library call number QC859 .F76 1627. Credit: Treasures of the Library.

About one-eighth-inch long, the female Hessian fly emits a sex pheromone from her ovipositor to attract males. P. Credit: USDA ARS News; photo by Scott Bauer..

Age-adjusted death rates of liver cirrhosis (ICDA-8: all 571) by sex and race, United States, 1970-97. Credit: NIAA.

Safe Sex Poster.

Safe sex. Credit: National Library of Medicine.

Dying for sex. Credit: National Library of Medicine.

Source: pictures compiled by the editor from various references; see picture credits.

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Digital Photo Gallery: Sex
 

"Turtle Sex" by Erris Van Ginkel
Commentary: "Turtles making love is a very slow process, i stood about 30 minutes watching but nothing much happened."		"Practice Safe Sex" by William Alatalo
Commentary: "Bikers always practice safe sex."

Source: photographs selected by the editor, with permission from the photographers.

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Familiar Quotations: Sex

AuthorQuotation

Arthur Schopenhauer

Only a male intellect clouded by the sexual drive could call the stunted, narrow-shouldered, broad-hipped and short-legged sex the fair sex.

Emo Philips

Oh, yes...I've tried my hand at sex.

Lord Alfred Tennyson

Either sex alone is half itself.

Peter Ustinov

Sex is a conversation carried out by other means. If you get on well out of bed, half the problems of bed are solved.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower

Legislation to apply the principle of equal pay for equal work without discrimination because of sex is a matter of simple justice.

Quentin Crisp

Sex is the last refuge of the miserable.

Richard Steele

Age in a virtuous person, of either sex, carries in it an authority which makes it preferable to all the pleasures of youth.

William Lloyd Garrison

Wherever there is a human being, I see God-given rights inherent in the being, whatever may be the sex or the complexion.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

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Historic Usage: Sex

AuthorDateQuotation

Communist Manifesto

1848

All are instruments of labour, more or less expensive to use, according to their age and sex. (reference)

Treaty of Versailles

1919

The right of voting will not be exercised for any assemblies other than the local assemblies, and will belong to every inhabitant over the age of twenty years, without distinction of sex. (reference)

United Nations

1948

Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. (reference)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

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Use in Literature: Sex

TitleAuthorQuote

Emma

Austen, Jane

I Always take the part of my own sex.

Scarlet Letter

Hawthorne, Nathaniel

Women derive a pleasure, incomprehensible to the other sex, from the delicate toil of the needle

Les Miserables

Hugo, Victor

Oh, consuming sex, the pretty, little white teeth adore sugar

Cymon and Iphigenia

John Dryden

She hugg'd the offender, and forgave the offence: Sex to the last

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

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Non-Fiction Usage: Sex

SubjectTopicQuote

Health

Avoid having sex during menstruation. (references)

All sex partners must also be treated. (references)

However, BV may spread between female sex partners. (references)

Business

The most important factors are income and sex. For example, upper to middle income consumers are not really concerned with price. (references)

Only medical equipment intended for sex enhancement and aphrodisiac purposes have been clearly identified as banned medical equipment. (references)

Some research indicates that a key reason for the abduction and sale of women is a serious imbalance in sex ratios in certain localities. (references)

Children

Saudi Arabia

By age 9, most children are segregated by sex in school. (references)

Colombia

A 1996 law prohibits sex with minors or the employment of minors for prostitution. (references)

Costa Rica

An adult who pays for sex with a minor can be sentenced to 2 to 10 years in prison. (references)

Civil Liberties

Saudi Arabia

Public meetings are segregated by sex. (references)

Singapore

Polls indicate that there is strong public support for continued censorship of sex and violence in films. (references)

Malaysia

A government censorship board censors films for profanity, nudity, sex, violence, and certain political and religious content. (references)

Discrimination

Saudi Arabia

There is legal and systemic discrimination based on sex and religion. (references)

Haiti

It does provide for equal working conditions regardless of sex, beliefs, or marital status. (references)

Swaziland

The law forbids employers to discriminate on the basis of race, religion, sex, or political affiliation. (references)

Economic History

Bahrain

As part of this agenda, the government changed some of its immigration and visa laws to make travel more difficult for single women coming from countries known to provide sex workers. (references)

Finland

The general rule is that advertisements may not contain claims which cannot be substantiated or which are offensive to minorities (race, sex, etc.). There are also restrictions concerning the use of children in advertising. (references)

Human Rights

Syria

Trials are public, except for those involving juveniles or sex offenses. (references)

Indigenous People

New Zealand

A special program for Maori sex offenders, Kia Marama, halved the rate of recidivism among those who participated. (references)

Minorities

Togo

Many citizens believe that Nigerian Ibos kill young women, drain their blood, and steal their sex organs to perform voodoo to accumulate wealth, health, or protection. (references)

Political Economy

Micronesia

Traditional customs distinguish among persons on the basis of social status and sex. (references)

Political Rights

Hong Kong

The Court unanimously found that the practice violated both the Bill of Rights and the Sex Discrimination Ordinances. (references)

Finland

The law requires a minimum of 40 percent membership from each sex on all state committees, commissions, and appointed municipal bodies. (references)

Travel

Bangladesh

Business visitors should be aware that in Bangladesh, men and women do not usually shake hands with each other, and may avoid doing so with a visitor of the opposite sex. (references)

Women

Papua New Guinea

Although sex tourism exists, it is not considered to be a problem. (references)

Cambodia

The NGO also estimated that there are up to 55,000 sex workers in the country. (references)

Iceland

It is also illegal to act as an intermediary in the sale or procurement of sex. (references)

Worker Rights

Korea

Many become brides, but some work in the sex industry. (references)

Thailand

Indentured work, both sex work and other labor, is also a problem. (references)

China

Up to 10,000 commercial sex workers may be employed in Lhasa alone. (references)

Lexicography

Devil's Dictionary

FEMALE, n. One of the opposing, or unfair, sex. The Maker, at Creation's birth, With living things had stocked the earth. From elephants to bats and snails, They all were good, for all were males. But when the Devil came and saw He said: "By Thine eternal law Of growth, maturity, decay, These all must quickly pass away And leave untenanted the earth Unless Thou dost establish birth" -- Then tucked his head beneath his wing To laugh -- he had no sleeve -- the thing With deviltry did so accord, That he'd suggested to the Lord. The Master pondered this advice, Then shook and threw the fateful dice Wherewith all matters here below Are ordered, and observed the throw; Then bent His head in awful state, Confirming the decree of Fate. From every part of earth anew The conscious dust consenting flew, While rivers from their courses rolled To make it plastic for the mould. Enough collected (but no more, For niggard Nature hoards her store) He kneaded it to flexible clay, While Nick unseen threw some away. And then the various forms He cast, Gross organs first and finer last; No one at once evolved, but all By even touches grew and small Degrees advanced, till, shade by shade, To match all living things He'd made Females, complete in all their parts Except (His clay gave out) the hearts. "No matter," Satan cried; "with speed I'll fetch the very hearts they need" -- So flew away and soon brought back The number needed, in a sack. That night earth range with sounds of strife -- Ten million males each had a wife; That night sweet Peace her pinions spread O'er Hell -- ten million devils dead! G.J.

Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits.

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Spoken Usage: Sex

SpeakerPhrase(s)

Connie Francis

Howard Johnson. Connie has the sex blahs, all kinds of things like that. It will never be the same. He was an Italian man, very proud. And there was something that he was turned off by the whole thing.

Dennis Miller

You have to admit phone sex has gotten a lot hotter in recent months.

Mary Tyler Moore

Right. We changed the sex of a couple of the key players because there was a flirtatious bit of tomfoolery between me and the nurse. And in Tom's play, it had been a woman. In my play, it became a man.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Speeches: Sex

SpeakerTermPhrase(s)

Jimmy Carter

1977-1981That review provides excellent guidance for the work remaining in our battle against sex discrimination.

Ronald Reagan

1981-1989We will not tolerate wage discrimination based on sex, and we intend to strengthen enforcement of child support laws to ensure that single parents, most of whom are women, do not suffer unfair financial hardship.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

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Usage Frequency: Sex

"Sex" is generally used as a noun (singular) -- approximately 99.81% of the time. "Sex" is used about 8,307 times out of a sample of 100 million words spoken or written in English. Its rank is based on over 700,000 words used in the English language. Some parts-of-speech are not covered due to the samples used by the British National Corpus. (note: percents less than one-hundredth of one percent have been omitted)
Parts of SpeechPercentUsage per
100 Million Words		Rank in English
Noun (singular)99.81%8,2911,171
Lexical Verb (infinitive)0.11%9117,287
Lexical Verb (base form)0.04%3202,518
Noun (proper)0.04%3202,518
                    Total100.00%8,307N/A

Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits.

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Derived & Related Names: Sex

The following table summarizes names derived from the word "sex".
 
NameGenderLanguageMeaning
JozacharN/ABiblical

Of the male sex

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

 

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Expressions: Sex

Expressions using "sex": byte sex ♦ computer sex ♦ determine sex ♦ extramarital sex ♦ failure to perform sex ♦ fair sex ♦ female sex ♦ gentle sex ♦ group sex ♦ have sex ♦ male sex ♦ of either sex ♦ oral sex ♦ premarital sex ♦ primary sex character ♦ primary sex characteristic ♦ Safe Sex ♦ safer sex ♦ secondary sex character ♦ secondary sex characteristic ♦ sex abuse ♦ sex act ♦ sex activity ♦ sex appeal ♦ sex attractant ♦ Sex Attractants ♦ Sex Behavior ♦ sex bomb ♦ sex cell ♦ sex change ♦ sex changer ♦ sex character ♦ sex characteristic ♦ Sex Characteristics ♦ Sex Chromatin ♦ sex chromosome ♦ Sex Chromosomes ♦ Sex Cord-Stromal Tumor ♦ Sex Counseling ♦ sex crime ♦ sex determination ♦ Sex Determination (Analysis) ♦ Sex Determination (Genetics) ♦ Sex Differentiation ♦ Sex Differentiation Disorders ♦ sex discrimination ♦ Sex Disorders ♦ sex distribution ♦ sex drive ♦ sex education ♦ sex exploiter ♦ Sex Factors ♦ sex fiend ♦ sex film ♦ sex harassment ♦ sex harmony ♦ sex hormone ♦ Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin ♦ Sex hormones ♦ sex instinct ♦ sex killing ♦ sex kitten ♦ sex legacy ♦ sex life ♦ sex linkage ♦ sex mad ♦ sex maniac ♦ sex manual ♦ Sex Manuals ♦ Sex Maturation ♦ sex object ♦ sex offender ♦ Sex Offenses ♦ sex organ ♦ sex organs ♦ sex pot ♦ Sex Preselection ♦ sex ratio ♦ sex roles ♦ sex scandal ♦ sex segregation ♦ sex shop ♦ sex system ♦ sex tourist ♦ sex up ♦ sex urge ♦ soft sex ♦ softer sex ♦ sterner sex ♦ the fair sex ♦ the gentle sex ♦ The sex ♦ the sterner sex ♦ the weaker sex ♦ underage sex ♦ weaker sex. Additional references.

Hyphenated Usage

Beginning with "sex": sex-abuse, sex-and-bribery, sex-and-death, sex-and-shopping, sex-and-violence, sex-appeal, sex-as-fun, sex-as-procreation, sex-associated, sex-attacker, sex-attacks, sex-balanced, sex-based, sex-beat, sex-biased, sex-blind, sex-by-class, sex-calibre, sex-care, sex-case, sex-cats, sex-centredness, sex-change, sex-changes, sex-class, sex-craved, sex-crazed, sex-crazy, sex-crime, sex-dance, sex-dependent, sex-desire, sex-determining, sex-differentiated, sex-differentiation, sex-discrimination, sex-discriminatory, sex-drive, sex-driven, sex-education, sex-equality, sex-exclusive, sex-fair, sex-fiend, sex-for-sale, sex-fun, sex-games, sex-god, sex-graded, sex-groups, sex-hell, sex-hungry, sex-icon, sex-inclusive, sex-indefinite, sex-kitten, sex-kittenish, sex-life, sex-limited, sex-linkage, sex-linked, sex-linked disorder, sex-lives, sex-love, sex-machines, sex-mad, sex-mad-filthy, sex-maniac, sex-marking, sex-matched, sex-murderer, sex-negative, sex-neutral, sex-objects, sex-obsessed, sex-of-host, sex-o-lettes, sex-op, sex-orgies, sex-perverts, sex-play, sex-pleasure, sex-plumbing, sex-poet, sex-pongs, sex-pot, sex-predetermination, sex-problems, sex-procreation, sex-ratio, sex-reference, sex-reform, sex-related, sex-role, sex-role-appropriate, sex-role-reversed, sex-roles, sex-romp, sex-scandal, sex-segregated, sex-segregation, sex-selective, sex-sharp, sex-shy, sex-siren, sex-slave, sex-specific, sex-spells, sex-starved, sex-stereotyped, sex-stereotyping, sex-stewardess, sex-stirred, sex-swap, sex-symbol, sex-symbols, sex-tests, sex-therapist, sex-type, sex-typed, sex-typing, sex-video, sex-wall, Sex-war, sex-wars, sex-y.

Ending with "sex": age-sex, food-for-sex, mixed-sex, safer-sex, single-sex.

Containing "sex": anti-sex-symbol, dial-a-sex-kitten, ho-mo-sex-u-al, same-sex-sharing, single-sex school, youth-sex-madness.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Frequency of Internet Keywords: Sex

The following statistics estimate the number of searches per day across the major English-language search engines as identified by various trade publications. Hyperlinks lead to commercial use of the expression at Amazon.com.
 
ExpressionFrequency
per Day