clitoris

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

See also: clitóris and clítoris

English

 clitoris on Wikipedia
Anatomy of a clitoris.

Etymology

From post-classical Latin clītoris (16th century), or its source, Koine Greek κλειτορίς (kleitorís), probably from Ancient Greek κλείω (kleíō, I sheathe, shut), in reference to its being covered by the labia minora.

The related noun form κλείς (kleís) has a second meaning of "a key, a latch or hook (to close a door)." Wooden pegs were the original keys; a connection also revealed in Latin clavis (nail) and claudere (to shut) (see close). Some medical sources give a supposed Greek verb κλειτοριάζω (kleitoriázō, touch or titillate lasciviously, tickle) literally "to be inclined (toward pleasure)" (compare German Kitzler (clitoris, literally tickler), related to Greek κλειτύς (kleitús, shut, closed), a variant of κλιτύς (klitús, hillside), related to κλίνω (klínō, I slope), from the same root as κλῖμαξ (klîmax, ladder). But many sources take κλειτορίς (kleitorís) literally as Ancient Greek "little hill".

Pronunciation

Noun

clitoris (plural clitorises or clitorides)

  1. (anatomy) A sensitive elongated erectile sex organ at the anterior part of the vulva in female humans and other mammals. [from 17th c.]
    stimulate the clitoris
    She complains that her boyfriend can't find her clitoris.
    • 1740, anonymous author, A Dialogue Between a Lady and a Maid:
      Juſt before them, towards the upper Part of the C—t, is a Thing they call Clitoris, which, is a little like a Man's P—k, for it will ſwell, and ſtand like his [] .
    • 1999, Natalie Angier, Woman: An Intimate Geography, page 65:
      The average infant clitoris, when measured from the base of the shaft to the top of the glans, is about 4 or 5 millimeters, the height of a pencil eraser.
  2. (zoology) A similar erectile sexual organ present in the cloacas of female amniotes.

Synonyms

Hypernyms

Derived terms

Translations

Anagrams

Dutch

Etymology

Borrowed from New Latin clitoris, from Ancient Greek κλειτορίς (kleitorís).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈkli.toː.rɪs/
  • Audio:(file)
  • Hyphenation: cli‧to‧ris

Noun

clitoris f (plural clitores or clitorissen, diminutive clitorisje n)

  1. clitoris
    Synonym: kittelaar

Descendants

  • Indonesian: klitoris

French

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek κλειτορίς (kleitorís).

Pronunciation

Noun

clitoris m (plural clitoris)

  1. clitoris
    Les personnes qui prennent de la testostérone dans le cadre d’une transition de genre médicale de femme à homme ont également un clitoris dont la taille est au-dessus de la moyenne.
    People who take testosterone as part of a female-to-male medical gender transition also have a clitoris of above-average size.

Derived terms

Further reading

Interlingua

Noun

clitoris (uncountable)

  1. clitoris

Latin

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Koine Greek κλειτορίς (kleitorís).

Pronunciation

Noun

clītoris f (genitive clītoridis); third declension

  1. clitoris (postclassical)

Declension

Third-declension noun.

Romanian

Etymology

Borrowed from French clitoris.

Noun

clitoris n (plural clitorisuri)

  1. clitoris

Declension

More information singular, plural ...
Declension of clitoris
singular plural
indefinite definite indefinite definite
nominative-accusative clitoris clitorisul clitorisuri clitorisurile
genitive-dative clitoris clitorisului clitorisuri clitorisurilor
vocative clitorisule clitorisurilor
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