penis

American  

[pee-nis] / ˈpi nɪs /

noun

Anatomy, Zoology.

penises, plural penes plural

1. the primary organ used for insemination and, in male mammals, urination.

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penis British  

/ ˈpiːnɪs /

noun

1. the male organ of copulation in higher vertebrates, also used for urine excretion in many mammals

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penis Scientific  

/ pē′nĭs /

penises plural

1. The male reproductive organ of mammals and some reptiles and birds. In mammals, the penis contains the urethra, which carries urine from the bladder and releases sperm during reproduction.

2. A similar organ found in the males of some invertebrate animals.

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penis Cultural  

1. The organ of the male reproductive system through which semen passes out of the body during sexual intercourse. The penis is also an organ of urination.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• penile
  adjective
• penial
  adjective

Inflected Forms

noun

• penes
  plural
• penises
  plural

Etymology

Origin of penis

First recorded in 1685–95, from Latin pēnis “tail, penis”; akin to Greek péos, Sanskrit pásas

Explanation

The penis is the male sexual organ. Boys and men and male animals all have penises. Kids and teens often giggle at the word penis, but it's just a word for a body part like "arm" or "leg." Well, a penis is a little different, since it's the organ males use for sex and urinating. Some men take a lot of pride in their penis, which in slang is most often called a dick. However, if you're talking about a dick with a parent or teacher, or you're writing about one in a paper, penis is the word you want to use.

Related Words

• member
• weenie