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or·gasm

(ôrgăz′əm)

1. The highest point of sexual excitement, characterized by strong feelings of pleasure and marked normally by ejaculation of semen by the male and by involuntary vaginal contractions in the female. Also called climax.

2. A similar point of intensity of emotional excitement.

intr.v. or·gasm·ed (-găz′əmd), or·gasm·ing (-găz′ə-mĭng), or·gasms (-găz′əmz)

To experience an orgasm.

[French orgasme or New Latin orgasmus, both from Greek orgasmos, from orgān, to swell up, be excited.]

or·gasmic (ôr-găzmĭk), or·gastic (-tĭk) adj.

or·gasmi·cal·ly, or·gasti·cal·ly adv.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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