2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Sexual means relating to the differences between male and female people. □ Women's groups denounced sexual discrimination. ● sex|ual|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ If you're sexually harassed, you ought to do something about it.
3 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Sexual means relating to the differences between heterosexuals and homosexuals. □ …couples of all sexual persuasions.
4 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Sexual means relating to the biological process by which people and animals produce young. □ Girls generally reach sexual maturity two years earlier than boys. ● sex|ual|ly ADV [ADV with v, ADV adj] □ The first organisms that reproduced sexually were free-floating plankton.
se x|ual abu se N‑UNCOUNT If a child or other person suffers sexual abuse , someone forces them to take part in sexual activity with them, often regularly over a period of time.
se x|ual ha r|ass|ment N‑UNCOUNT Sexual harassment is repeated and unwelcome sexual comments, looks, or physical contact at work, usually a man's actions that offend a woman.
se x|ual i nter|course N‑UNCOUNT Sexual intercourse is the physical act of sex between two people. [FORMAL ]
sexu|al|ity /se kʃuæ l I ti/
1 N‑UNCOUNT [oft poss N ] A person's sexuality is their sexual feelings. □ …the growing discussion of women's sexuality.
2 N‑UNCOUNT [oft poss N ] You can refer to a person's sexuality when you are talking about whether they are sexually attracted to people of the same sex or a different sex. □ He believes he has been discriminated against because of his sexuality.
sex|ual|ize /se kʃuəla I z/ (sexualizes , sexualizing , sexualized ) in BRIT, also use sexualise VERB To sexualize something or someone means to make them sexual or consider them in a sexual way. □ [V n] Referring to children's friends as girlfriends and boyfriends sexualizes them. □ [V -ed] Rape is sexualised violence.
se x|ual ori|en|ta |tion (sexual orientations ) N‑VAR [oft poss N ] Someone's sexual orientation is whether they are sexually attracted to people of the same sex, people of the opposite sex, or both.
se x|ual pre f|er|ence (sexual preferences ) N‑VAR [oft poss N ] Someone's sexual preference is the same as their sexual orientation .
sexy /se ksi/ (sexier , sexiest ) ADJ You can describe people and things as sexy if you think they are sexually exciting or sexually attractive. □ Women found his voice incredibly sexy.
SF /e s e f/ N‑UNCOUNT [usu N n] SF is the same as science fiction . □ There must be aliens out there, said the SF writers, and the scientists now, on the whole, agree.
sfx Sfx is an abbreviation for special effects . [WRITTEN ]
SGML /e s dʒiː em e l/ N‑UNCOUNT SGML is a computer language for creating files using a system of codes. SGML is an abbreviation for 'standard generalized mark-up language'.
Sgt in AM, use Sgt. N‑TITLE Sgt is the written abbreviation for sergeant when it is used as a title. □ …Sgt Johnston.
sh /ʃ/ also shh CONVENTION You can say ' Sh! ' to tell someone to be quiet. [INFORMAL , SPOKEN ]
shab|by /ʃæ bi/ (shabbier , shabbiest )
1 ADJ Shabby things or places look old and in bad condition. □ His clothes were old and shabby. □ He walked past her into a tiny, shabby room.
2 ADJ A person who is shabby is wearing old, worn clothes. □ …a shabby, tall man with dark eyes.
3 ADJ If you describe someone's behaviour as shabby , you think they behave in an unfair or unacceptable way. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ It was hard to say why the man deserved such shabby treatment. □ [+ of ] I knew it was shabby of me, but I couldn't help feeling slightly disappointed.
Sha b|by Chi c N‑UNCOUNT Shabby Chic is a style of decorating the inside of a house in which the furniture and house look slightly used or old in a way that is attractive. [TRADEMARK ] □ Her apartment is the ultimate in Shabby Chic.
shack /ʃæ k/ (shacks , shacking , shacked ) N‑COUNT A shack is a simple hut built from tin, wood, or other materials.
▸ shack up PHRASAL VERB If you say that someone has shacked up with someone else or that two people have shacked up together, you disapprove of the fact that they have started living together as lovers. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ [V P + with ] …the deserters who had shacked up with local women. □ [V P ] The Government was keen for people to get married rather than shack up. □ [be V -ed P ] It turned out she was shacked up with a lawyer in New York.
shack|le /ʃæ k ə l/ (shackles , shackling , shackled )
1 VERB [usu passive] If you are shackled by something, it prevents you from doing what you want to do. [FORMAL ] □ [be V -ed + by ] The trade unions are shackled by the law. □ [be V -ed + to ] …people who find themselves shackled to a high-stress job.
2 N‑PLURAL If you throw off the shackles of something, you reject it or free yourself from it because it was preventing you from doing what you wanted to do. [LITERARY ] □ [+ of ] …a country ready to throw off the shackles of its colonial past.