orgasm

American  

[awr-gaz-uhm] / ˈɔr gæz əm /

noun

1. the physical and emotional sensation experienced at the peak of sexual excitation, usually resulting from stimulation of the sexual organ and usually accompanied in the male by ejaculation.

2. an instance of experiencing this.

3. intense or unrestrained excitement.

4. an instance or occurrence of such excitement.

---

verb (used without object)

1. to have an orgasm.

orgasm British  

/ ˈɔːɡæzəm /

noun

1. the most intense point during sexual excitement, characterized by extremely pleasurable sensations and in the male accompanied by ejaculation of semen

2. rare intense or violent excitement

---

orgasm Scientific  

/ ôr′găz′əm /

1. The peak of sexual excitement, characterized by strong feelings of pleasure and bv a series of involuntary contractions of the muscles of the genitals, usually accompanied by the ejaculation of semen by the male.

---

Other Word Forms

• orgasmic adjective
• orgastic adjective
• superorgasm noun

Etymology

Origin of orgasm

First recorded in 1640–50; from New Latin orgasmus, Greek orgasmós, derivative of orgân “to swell, be excited”

Example Sentences

I think it’s wonderful that we’ve got so many men in hetersexual relationships who value female orgasm, and giving pleasure.

From Slate • Jun. 3, 2021

Human physiologists, neuroscientists, and others should use their expertise to study orgasm from basic principles.

From The Guardian • Apr. 20, 2017

Another big myth has been exposed at Dr Cindy Meston's orgasm lab at the University of Texas at Austin.

From BBC • Dec. 1, 2016

"When men get older, they may have more difficulties reaching an orgasm for medical or emotional reasons," she noted, perhaps leading to overexertion, exhaustion and cardiovascular stress.

From US News • Sep. 6, 2016

If the secretory vessels of the liver are affected first with torpor, and afterwards with orgasm, a greater secretion of bile is produced, which sometimes causes a diarrhœa.

From Zoonomia, Vol. II Or, the Laws of Organic Life by Darwin, Erasmus