Orgasm

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈɔːɡaz(É™)m/
• US IPA: /ˈɔɹ.ɡæz.É™m/,

Origin

From Late Latin orgasmus, from Ancient Greek ὀργασμός (orgasmós, "orgasm"), from ὀργάω (orgaō, "to swell with moisture").

Full definition of orgasm

Noun

1. (obsolete) A spasm or sudden contraction. 17th-19th c.
• 1794, Erasmus Darwin, Zoonomia:Hence simple fevers are of two kinds; first, the febris irritativa, or fever with strong pulse, which consists of a previous torpor of the heart, arteries, and capillaries, and a succeeding orgasm of those vessels.
2. A rush of sexual excitement; now specifically, the climax or peak of sexual pleasure, which occurs during sexual activity and which in males may include ejaculation and in females vaginal contractions. from 18th c.
• 1982, Lawrence Durrell, Constance, Penguin 2004 Avignon Quintet, p. 668:Never had I experienced such an immense slow orgasm – its ripples ran like the tributaries of the Nile throughout the whole nervous system.
• 2007, Zoe Margolis, The Guardian, 12 Sep 2007:There does not have to be romance involved with sexual pleasure: some of us just like orgasms for the hell of it.
3. If you want to get an orgasm, I recommend buying a vibrator.

Synonyms

• climax

Hyponyms

• clitoral orgasm, G-spot orgasm

Derived terms

• -gasm
• multiple orgasm

Related terms

• orgastic

Verb

1. To have an orgasm.

Synonyms

• cum
• climax