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.

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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

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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.

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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”

Explanation

An orgasm is a moment of intense pleasure that is the culmination of sex. People really enjoy orgasms. A man or a woman gets an orgasm during sex, and it doesn't really matter what kind of sex. Even solo sex — masturbation — produces orgasms. People like orgasms so much that when they enjoy something else — like good music — they sometimes say they had an eargasm. A great movie could bring a fangasm. A vulgar, slang way of saying someone is orgasming is to say they're coming or cumming.

Example Sentences

A feminist case was powerfully made by philosopher Elisabeth Lloyd in The Case of the Female Orgasm.

From The Guardian • Nov. 6, 2019

Elisabeth Lloyd, a professor of biology at Indiana University and author of The Case of the Female Orgasm, praised the study and said it offered support for the team’s theory.

From The Guardian • Sep. 30, 2019

Boyd highlights Lerone Bennett Jr.’s Ebony magazine article titled “The Emancipation Orgasm: Sweetback in Wonderland” in which Bennett accused the film of romanticizing poverty and misery.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2018

Just before he died, Mailer spoke to me about the direct influence Reich had on his thinking: "The Function of the Orgasm was like a Pandora's box to me," he said.

From The Guardian • Jul. 7, 2011

In 1971 Hite read a pamphlet in the NOW office, The Myth of Female Orgasm, and decided to create a questionnaire on the issue for a NOW-sponsored "speak-up."

From Time Magazine Archive