Clitoris

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈklɪtəɹɪs/
• US IPA: /ˈklɪtəɹɪs/, /klɪˈtɔɹɪs/

Origin

From Ancient Greek κλειτορίς, a diminutive of uncertain origin, probably from κλείω ("I sheathe, shut"), in reference to its being covered by the labia minora.

The related noun form κλείς has a second meaning of "a key, a latch or hook (to close a door)." Wooden pegs were the original keys; a connection also revealed in Latin clavis ("nail") and claudere ("to shut") (see close). Some medical sources give a supposed Greek verb κλειτοριάζω ("touch or titillate lasciviously, tickle") literally "to be inclined (toward pleasure)" (compare German Kitzler ("clitoris", literally tickler), related to Greek κλειτύς, a variant of κλιτύς ("hillside"), related to κλίνω ("I slope"), from the same root as κλῖμαξ ("ladder"). But many sources take κλειτορίς literally as Ancient Greek "little hill". Compare clit.

Full definition of clitoris

Noun

1. (anatomy) A sensitive elongated erectile organ at the anterior part of the vulva in female mammals, homologous with the penis (as a male clitoris).

Synonyms

• clit
• button

Hypernyms

• primordial phallus, genital tubercle
• genitals

Derived terms

• clit
• clitoral
• clitoral hood
• clitorectomy
• clitoridectomy
• clitoridotomy