activities associated with sexual intercourse
"they had sex in the back seat"
either of the two categories (male or female) into which most organisms are divided
"the war between the sexes"
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"
A category into which sexually-reproducing organisms are divided on the basis of their reproductive roles in their species.
"In some old dialects, you might find people referring to a religious group as a sex instead of a sect."
Alternative form of sect.
In plain English: Sex is the biological classification of living things based on their reproductive organs and chromosomes.
"They decided to keep their sex a secret until they were ready to tell everyone."
Usage: Use this term specifically to denote biological categories based on reproductive function, avoiding it when referring to sexual acts or orientation where other words like "gender" or specific verbs may be more precise. In formal contexts regarding biology and medicine, maintain the distinction between sex as a physical trait and gender as a social identity to prevent confusion.
tell the sex (of young chickens)
"The farmer used a magnifying glass to examine each chick's vent and accurately tell its sex before sorting them into separate brooders."
To determine the sex of (an animal).
"The veterinarian examined the kitten to confirm its sex before releasing it back into the shelter's foster program."
In plain English: To have sexual intercourse with someone.
"They decided to go home early so they could have some quiet time alone in their bedroom."
The word sex comes from the Latin sexus, which originally meant genitals or a division into males and females. This Latin term likely derives from an ancient root meaning "to cut," reflecting the idea of separating people by gender.