clitoris

noun

cli·​to·​ris ˈkli-tə-rəs How to pronounce clitoris (audio) kli-ˈtȯr-əs How to pronounce clitoris (audio)
plural clitorises also clitorides kli-ˈtȯr-ə-ˌdēz How to pronounce clitoris (audio)
: a female erogenous organ that consists of an externally visible, highly innervated small conical structure or glans that lies at the anterior junction of the labia minora above the urethral opening and is continuous internally with a short body of paired cylinders of vascular, erectile tissue which branch into curved extensions or crura attaching to the undersurface of the pubic bones and with two elongated masses of erectile tissue situated near each side of the vaginal and urethral openings

Note: The clitoris develops from the same embryonic mass of tissue as the penis.

clitoral adjective
or less commonly clitoric
kli-ˈtȯr-ik How to pronounce clitoris (audio)
-ˈtär-

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek kleitoris

First Known Use

1615, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of clitoris was in 1615

Dictionary Entries Near clitoris

Cite this Entry

“Clitoris.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clitoris. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

clitoris

noun
cli·​to·​ris ˈklit-ə-rəs How to pronounce clitoris (audio) kli-ˈtȯr-əs How to pronounce clitoris (audio)
plural clitorises also clitorides kli-ˈtȯr-ə-ˌdēz How to pronounce clitoris (audio)
: a small structure in the sex organs of the female mammal that corresponds to the penis in the male
clitoral adjective

Medical Definition

clitoris

noun
cli·​to·​ris ˈklit-ə-rəs How to pronounce clitoris (audio) kli-ˈtȯr-əs How to pronounce clitoris (audio)
plural clitorises also clitorides kli-ˈtȯr-ə-ˌdēz How to pronounce clitoris (audio)
: a female erogenous organ that consists of an externally visible, highly innervated small conical structure or glans that lies at the anterior junction of the labia minora above the urethral opening and is continuous internally with a short body of paired cylinders of vascular, erectile corpus cavernosum tissue which branch into curved extensions or crura attaching to the pubic arch and with two elongated masses of erectile tissue (the bulb of the vestibule) situated near each side of the vaginal and urethral openings

Note: The clitoris develops from the same embryonic mass of tissue as the penis.

clitoral adjective

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