See also: clitóris and clítoris

English edit

 
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Etymology edit

From post-classical Latin clitoris (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 edit

  • IPA(key): /ˈklɪtəɹɪs/, IPA(key): /klɪˈtɔɹɪs/
    • (file)

Noun edit

clitoris (plural clitorises or clitorides)

  1. (anatomy) A sensitive elongated erectile organ at the anterior part of the vulva in female humans and mammals, homologous with the penis. [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. (ornithology) A similar erectile sexual organ present in the cloacas of female ratites.

Synonyms edit

See also Thesaurus:clitoris.

Hypernyms edit

Derived terms edit

Related terms edit

Translations edit

Anagrams edit

Dutch edit

Etymology edit

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

Pronunciation edit

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

Noun edit

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

  1. clitoris
    Synonym: kittelaar

Related terms edit

Descendants edit

  • Indonesian: klitoris

French edit

Etymology edit

Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek κλειτορίς (kleitorís).

Pronunciation edit

Noun edit

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 edit

Further reading edit

Interlingua edit

Noun edit

clitoris (uncountable)

  1. clitoris

Latin edit

Pronunciation edit

Noun edit

clītoris f (genitive clītoridis); third declension

  1. clitoris (postclassical)

Declension edit

Third-declension noun.

Case Singular Plural
Nominative clītoris clītoridēs
Genitive clītoridis clītoridum
Dative clītoridī clītoridibus
Accusative clītoridem clītoridēs
Ablative clītoride clītoridibus
Vocative clītoris clītoridēs

Romanian edit

Etymology edit

Borrowed from French clitoris.

Noun edit

clitoris n (plural clitorisuri)

  1. clitoris

Declension edit