aphrodisiac
[ af-ruh-dee-ze-ak, -diz-ee-ak ]
/ ˌæf rəˈdi zɛˌæk, -ˈdɪz iˌæk /
adjective
Also aph·ro·di·si·a·cal [af-ruh-duh-zahy-uh-kuhl, -sahy-]. /ˌæf rə dəˈzaɪ ə kəl, -ˈsaɪ-/. arousing sexual desire.
noun
an aphrodisiac food, drug, potion, or other agent that arouses sexual desire.
QUIZZES
IT’S A WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ BONANZA!
This windfall of words will make you rich with knowledge. Mine your memory on the words from July 27 to August 2!
Question 1 of 7
What does "scattergood" mean?
a person who acts as though he or she knows everything and who dismisses the opinions, comments, or suggestions of others.
a person who spends possessions or money extravagantly or wastefully; spendthrift.
a well-intentioned but naive and often ineffectual social or political reformer.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUTOrigin of aphrodisiac
1710–20; <Greek aphrodīsiakós relating to love or desire, equivalent to aphrodī́si(os) of Aphrodite + -akos-ac
OTHER WORDS FROM aphrodisiac
an·ti·aph·ro·dis·i·ac, adjective, nounWords nearby aphrodisiac
aphoristic, aphorize, aphotic, aphrasia, aphrodisia, aphrodisiac, Aphrodite, Aphrodite Terra, aphtha, aphthae, aphthae majores
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences 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
Medical definitions for aphrodisiac
aphrodisiac
[ ăf′rə-dĭz′ē-ăk′, -dē′zē- ]
adj.
Arousing, increasing, or intensifying sexual desire.
n.
An aphrodisiac drug or food.
Other words from aphrodisiac
aph′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.
Cultural definitions for aphrodisiac
aphrodisiac
[ (af-ruh-dee-zee-ak, af-ruh-diz-ee-ak) ]
A substance or quality that excites sexual desire.
notes for aphrodisiac
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.