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cop·u·late

(kŏpyə-lāt′)

intr.v. cop·u·lat·ed, cop·u·lat·ing, cop·u·lates

1. To engage in sexual intercourse in which the penis is inserted into the vagina.

2. To transfer male reproductive cells from one individual to another, usually into an internal organ or cavity, such as a cloaca. Used of animals.

adj. (-lĭt)

Coupled; joined.

[Latin cōpulāre, cōpulāt-, to join together, from cōpula, link.]

cop′u·lation n.

copu·la·to′ry (-lə-tôr′ē) adj.

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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