orgasm

Etymology

From French orgasme or New Latin orgasmus, from Ancient Greek ὀργασμός (orgasmós, “excitement, swelling”), from ὀργάω (orgáō, “to swell with moisture”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈɔːɡaz(ə)m/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈɔɹ.ɡæz.əm/

Noun

orgasm (countable and uncountable, plural orgasms)

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), page 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.

   If you want to get an orgasm, I recommend buying a vibrator.

Verb

orgasm (third-person singular simple present orgasms, present participle orgasming, simple past and past participle orgasmed)

1. To have an orgasm.

Anagrams

• Magros, Morgas, gromas, margos

Noun

orgasm (genitive orgasmi, partitive orgasmi)

1. orgasm

Etymology

From French orgasme

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [orˈɡasm]

Noun

orgasm n (plural orgasme)

1. orgasm

Etymology

From Ancient Greek οργασμός (orgasmós, “orgasm”)

Noun

orgasm c

1. orgasm

   Han fick orgasm i duschen.

   He had an orgasm in the shower.