sex
♦♦ sex /s'eks/ (sexes sexing sexed)
1 [N-COUNT] usu with supp
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.
see also fair sex, opposite sex, single-sex, single-sex
2 [N-COUNT] 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.
= gender
3 [N-UNCOUNT]
Sex is the physical activity by which people can produce young.
He was very open in his attitudes about sex...
We have a very active sex life.
4 [PHRASE] V inflects, pl-n PHR, PHR with n
If two people have sex, they perform the act of sex.
Have you ever thought about having sex with someone other than your husband?fair sex
also fairer sex
[N-SING] the N
If a man talks about the fair sex, he is referring to women in general. (OLD-FASHIONED)op|po|site sex
[N-SING] the N
If you are talking about men and refer to the opposite sex, you mean women. If you are talking about women and refer to the opposite sex, you mean men.
Body language can also be used to attract members of the opposite sex.oral sex
[N-UNCOUNT]
Oral sex is sexual activity involving contact between a person's mouth and their partner's genitals.safe sex
also safer sex
[N-UNCOUNT]
Safe sex is sexual activity in which people protect themselves against the risk of AIDS and other diseases, usually by using condoms.sex aid (sex aids)
[N-COUNT]
A sex aid is an object or piece of equipment that is designed to make sex easier or more enjoyable.sex ap|peal
[N-UNCOUNT]
Someone's sex appeal is their sexual attractiveness.
She still has the energy and sex appeal of a woman less than half her age.sex edu|ca|tion
[N-UNCOUNT]
Sex education is education in schools on the subject of sexual activity and sexual relationships.sex god|dess (sex goddesses)
[N-COUNT]
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. (JOURNALISM)
Raquel Welch was at the height of her popularity as a sex goddess.sex life (sex lives)
[N-COUNT] oft with poss
If you refer to someone's sex life, you are referring to their sexual relationships and sexual activity.sex ob|ject (sex objects)
[N-COUNT]
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.
He cared for her as a whole person rather than just a sex object.sex shop (sex shops)
[N-COUNT]
A sex shop is a shop that sells products that are associated with sexual pleasure, for example magazines, videos, and special clothing or equipment.sex sym|bol (sex symbols)
[N-COUNT]
A sex symbol is a famous person, especially an actor or a singer, who is considered by many people to be sexually attractive.
...Hollywood sex symbols of the Forties.sex toy (sex toys)
[N-COUNT]
A sex toy is an object that some people use to give themselves or other people sexual pleasure.sex up
[PHRASAL VERB] V n P, also V P n (not pron), V-ed P
To sex something up means to make it more interesting and exciting. (INFORMAL)
They wanted to modernise the programme, sex it up.
1 [N-COUNT] usu with supp
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.
see also fair sex, opposite sex, single-sex, single-sex
2 [N-COUNT] 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.
= gender
3 [N-UNCOUNT]
Sex is the physical activity by which people can produce young.
He was very open in his attitudes about sex...
We have a very active sex life.
4 [PHRASE] V inflects, pl-n PHR, PHR with n
If two people have sex, they perform the act of sex.
Have you ever thought about having sex with someone other than your husband?fair sex
also fairer sex
[N-SING] the N
If a man talks about the fair sex, he is referring to women in general. (OLD-FASHIONED)op|po|site sex
[N-SING] the N
If you are talking about men and refer to the opposite sex, you mean women. If you are talking about women and refer to the opposite sex, you mean men.
Body language can also be used to attract members of the opposite sex.oral sex
[N-UNCOUNT]
Oral sex is sexual activity involving contact between a person's mouth and their partner's genitals.safe sex
also safer sex
[N-UNCOUNT]
Safe sex is sexual activity in which people protect themselves against the risk of AIDS and other diseases, usually by using condoms.sex aid (sex aids)
[N-COUNT]
A sex aid is an object or piece of equipment that is designed to make sex easier or more enjoyable.sex ap|peal
[N-UNCOUNT]
Someone's sex appeal is their sexual attractiveness.
She still has the energy and sex appeal of a woman less than half her age.sex edu|ca|tion
[N-UNCOUNT]
Sex education is education in schools on the subject of sexual activity and sexual relationships.sex god|dess (sex goddesses)
[N-COUNT]
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. (JOURNALISM)
Raquel Welch was at the height of her popularity as a sex goddess.sex life (sex lives)
[N-COUNT] oft with poss
If you refer to someone's sex life, you are referring to their sexual relationships and sexual activity.sex ob|ject (sex objects)
[N-COUNT]
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.
He cared for her as a whole person rather than just a sex object.sex shop (sex shops)
[N-COUNT]
A sex shop is a shop that sells products that are associated with sexual pleasure, for example magazines, videos, and special clothing or equipment.sex sym|bol (sex symbols)
[N-COUNT]
A sex symbol is a famous person, especially an actor or a singer, who is considered by many people to be sexually attractive.
...Hollywood sex symbols of the Forties.sex toy (sex toys)
[N-COUNT]
A sex toy is an object that some people use to give themselves or other people sexual pleasure.sex up
[PHRASAL VERB] V n P, also V P n (not pron), V-ed P
To sex something up means to make it more interesting and exciting. (INFORMAL)
They wanted to modernise the programme, sex it up.