sensual

Alternative forms

• sensuall (obsolete)

Etymology

From Late Latin sensualis (“endowed with feeling, sensual”), from Latin sensus (“feeling, sense”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈsɛnsjuːəl/, /ˈsɛnʃuːəl/

  • Audio (Southern England):

    (file)

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈsɛn.ʃu.əl/

Adjective

sensual (comparative more sensual, superlative most sensual)

1. Inducing pleasurable or erotic sensations.

   That massage was a very sensual experience!

2. Of or pertaining to the physical senses; sensory.

   Plato believed that this sensual world in which we live is inferior to the heavenly realm.

3. Provoking or exciting a strong response in the senses.

Further reading

• “sensual”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
• “sensual”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
• “sensual”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.

Anagrams

• unseals

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin sēnsuālis.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (Central, Balearic) [sən.suˈal]
• IPA^(key): (Valencia) [sen.suˈal]
• Rhymes: -al

Adjective

sensual m or f (masculine and feminine plural sensuals)

1. sensual

Further reading

• “sensual” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Late Latin sēnsuālis, from Latin sēnsus.

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: (Portugal) -al, (Brazil) -aw
• Homophone: censual
• Hyphenation: sen‧su‧al

Adjective

sensual m or f (plural sensuais, comparable, comparative mais sensual, superlative o mais sensual or sensualíssimo)

1. sexually attractive; sexy

Etymology

From Latin sēnsuālis.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /senˈswal/ [sẽnˈswal]
• Rhymes: -al
• Syllabification: sen‧sual

Adjective

sensual m or f (masculine and feminine plural sensuales)

1. sensual

Further reading

• “sensual”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 2024 December 10