verb
masturbate
MA-stuh-bayt
verb
1
To stimulate one's own genitals for sexual pleasure.
"The survey asked teenagers frank questions about when they first masturbate."
2
To stimulate someone else's genitals by hand.
"The couple discussed what they each enjoyed in bed, including how to masturbate each other."
How to Use Masturbate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo sexually stimulate yourself (or a partner) by hand.
When to use it
A clinical, fairly neutral term compared to slang alternatives, but still a topic best used in appropriate contexts.
Word Forms
masturbated past tense, masturbates singular
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Etymology
A back-formation from masturbation, itself traced to Latin masturbari, whose deeper origin is uncertain.