sex
[noun]
Synonyms:
- gender
- (sexual) intercourse, coition, coitus, copulation, fornication, lovemaking, sexual relations

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. sex¹ S1 W2 AC /seks/ noun
[Word Family: noun: sex, sexism, sexist, sexuality, sexiness, bisexual, bisexuality, homosexual, homosexuality; adjective: sexist, sexual, bisexual, homosexual, sexy, sexless; adverb: sexually, sexily; verb: sex]
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: sexus]

1. [uncountable] the physical activity that two people do together in order to produce babies, or for pleasure ⇒ sexual:
All you see on TV is sex and violence these days.
They had sex in the back seat of his car.
She no longer wanted to have sex with him.
premarital sex/sex before marriage (=sex happening before marriage)
the dangers of casual sex (=having sex with someone without intending to have a serious relationship)
safe sex (=ways of having sex that reduce the spread of sexual diseases)
unprotected sex (=sex without a condom)

2. [uncountable] whether a person, plant, or animal is male or female:
Put your name and sex at the top of the form.

3. [countable] all men, considered as a group, or all women, considered as a group ⇒ sexual:
He found it difficult to talk to members of the opposite sex (=people that were not his own sex).
People of both sexes (=both men and women) buy her records.

4. single-sex school/college etc British English a school etc for either males or females, but not for both together

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. sex² verb [transitive] technical
[Word Family: noun: sex, sexism, sexist, sexuality, sexiness, bisexual, bisexuality, homosexual, homosexuality; adjective: sexist, sexual, bisexual, homosexual, sexy, sexless; adverb: sexually, sexily; verb: sex]
to find out whether an animal is male or female
sex something ↔ up phrasal verb informal
to change something in order to make it more exciting:
The organization is trying to sex up its image.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

sex
noun
I. male or female
ADJ. female, male | opposite At that age they can started becoming shy with the opposite sex.
single a single-sex school
fair/fairer, gentle (humorous) (= women; some women may find these terms annoying)
SEX + NOUN change She's had a sex change operation.
equality | discrimination, inequality | ratio
PREP. between the ~es differences/inequalities/relations between the sexes
PHRASES the battle of the sexes The quiz is a battle of the sexes between a team of male students and a team of female students.
on grounds of sex discrimination on grounds of sex
irrespective/regardless of sex The word ‘man’ can refer to all humans, irrespective of sex.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

sex
II. sexual intercourse
ADJ. anal, oral, penetrative, vaginal | gay, homosexual, lesbian | heterosexual | good, great, passionate | safe | unprotected, unsafe | consensual, non-consensual | extra-marital, illicit, premarital | kinky | casual, promiscuous | unlawful He was convicted of having unlawful sex with an underage girl.
explicit, gratuitous Films containing explicit sex are banned.
VERB + SEX engage in, have She had never had sex before.
consent to | refuse | obtain, procure
SEX + NOUN life a healthy sex life
drive, urge a low sex drive
appeal Despite his age, he still has a lot of sex appeal.
act, practices photos showing sex acts safer sex practices
therapist, therapy | organ | hormone | education | abuse, assault, attack, crime, offence child sex abuse
maniac He had a reputation of being a sex maniac.
fiend (informal), offender, pest (informal)
film, scene, show | symbol She wants to be known as a singer rather than as a sex symbol.
shop | aid, toy | scandal
PREP. ~ between sex between consenting adults
~ with sex with her husband

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

SEX
Something Everybody Xeroxes  
Stash Enhancement Experience (as related to acquiring craft materials)  
System Extension

[TahlilGaran] Acronyms and Abbreviations Dictionary ▲