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aphrodisiac

[ af-ruh-dee-ze-ak, -diz-ee-ak ]
/ ˌæf rəˈdi zɛˌæk, -ˈdɪz iˌæk /
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adjective

Also aph·ro·di·si·a·cal [af-ruh-duh-zahy-uh-kuh l, -sahy-] /ˌæf rə dəˈzaɪ ə kəl, -ˈsaɪ-/. arousing sexual desire.

noun

an aphrodisiac food, drug, potion, or other agent that arouses sexual desire.

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RELATED WORDS

erotic, turn-on, popper, amative, amatory, amorous

Nearby words

  1. aphorize,
  2. aphotic,
  3. aphra,
  4. aphrasia,
  5. aphrodisia,
  6. aphrodite,
  7. aphrodite terra,
  8. aphtha,
  9. aphthae,
  10. aphthae majores

Origin of aphrodisiac

1710–20; < Greek aphrodīsiakós relating to love or desire, equivalent to aphrodī́si(os) of Aphrodite + -akos -ac
Related formsan·ti·aph·ro·dis·i·ac, adjective, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for aphrodisiac

British Dictionary definitions for aphrodisiac

aphrodisiac

/ (ˌæfrəˈdɪzɪæk) /

noun

a drug, food, etc, that excites sexual desire

adjective

exciting or heightening sexual desire

Word Origin for aphrodisiac

C18: from Greek aphrodisiakos, from aphrodisios belonging to Aphrodite
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for aphrodisiac

aphrodisiac

n.

1719, from Greek aphrodisiakos "inducing sexual desire," from aphrodisios, "pertaining to Aphrodite; sexual pleasure; a temple of Aphrodite," Greek goddess of love and beauty. As an adjective from 1830 (earlier was aphrodisical, 1719)

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Medicine definitions for aphrodisiac

aphrodisiac

[ ăf′rə-dĭz′ē-ăk′, -dē′zē- ]

adj.

Arousing, increasing, or intensifying sexual desire.

n.

An aphrodisiac drug or food.
Related formsaph′ro•di•si′a•cal (-dĭ-zī′ĭ-kəl) adj.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Culture definitions for aphrodisiac

aphrodisiac

[ (af-ruh-dee-zee-ak, af-ruh-diz-ee-ak) ]

A substance or quality that excites sexual desire.

Note

Aphrodisiacs are named after Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.