libido

[ li-bee-doh ]

/ lɪˈbi doʊ /

noun, plural li·bi·dos.

Psychoanalysis. all of the instinctual energies and desires that are derived from the id.

sexual instinct or sexual drive.

Nearby words

liberum veto, libeskind, libia, libidinal, libidinous, libido, libman-sacks endocarditis, libor , libra, librarian, librarianship

Origin of libido

1890–95; < Latin libīdō desire, willfulness, lust, akin to libēre to be pleasing

Related formsli·bid·i·nal

[li-bid-n-l] /lɪˈbɪd n l/, adjectiveli·bid·i·nal·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for libidinal

Sex and violence fuel the libidinal, careening, hugely popular teen vampire soap, now in its second season.
Inside the Vampire Diaries Craze|Choire Sicha|November 2, 2010|DAILY BEAST
But, as we know, the libidinal situation rarely remains so simple.
Group Psychology and The Analysis of The Ego|Sigmund Freud
The cause is rather to be found in the undeniable weakening of religious feelings and the libidinal ties which depend upon them.
Group Psychology and The Analysis of The Ego|Sigmund Freud

British Dictionary definitions for libidinal

libido

/ (lɪˈbiːdəʊ) /

noun plural -dos

psychoanal psychic energy emanating from the id

sexual urge or desire

Derived Formslibidinal (lɪˈbɪdɪnəl), adjectivelibidinally, adverb

Word Origin for libido

C20 (in psychoanalysis): from Latin: desire

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 libidinal (1 of 2)

libidinal

adj.

1922, in psychology jargon, from libido (Latin genitive libidinis) + -al (1).

Word Origin and History for libidinal (1 of 2)

libido

"psychic drive or energy, usually associated with sexual instinct," 1892, carried over untranslated in English edition of Krafft-Ebing's "Psychopathia Sexualis"; and used in 1909 in A.A. Brill's translation of Freud's "Selected Papers on Hysteria" (Freud's use of the term led to its popularity); from Latin libido "desire, lust," from libere "to be pleasing, to please," ultimately cognate with Old English lufu (see love (n.)).

Medicine definitions for libidinal

libido

[ lĭ-bē′dō, -bī′- ]

n. pl. li•bi•dos

The psychic and emotional energy associated with instinctual biological drives.

Sexual desire.

Manifestation of the sexual drive.

Culture definitions for libidinal

libido

[ (luh-bee-doh) ]

In Freudian psychology, the energy associated with the desires that come from the id.

Note

Libido is loosely used to mean sexual desire.