World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English DictionariesForeplay
/ˈfɔːr.pleɪ/Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
2 senses- 1
Sexual activity engaged in before intercourse, typically involving touching, kissing, and petting to arouse excitement.
"Adequate foreplay is essential for mutual satisfaction and physical arousal." - 2
Preparatory action or preamble leading up to a main event or activity.
"The lengthy introductions at the conference felt like unnecessary foreplay before the actual debate."
Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
The term is a compound formed from the prefix 'fore-' (meaning before or in advance) and the noun 'play' (in the sense of amusement or action). Emerging in the early 20th century, it shifted from a theatrical or general preparatory sense into a specific clinical and psychological term referring to sexual activities preceding intercourse.
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10 Global Lexicons: How "Foreplay" is said worldwide
Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration
préludes
Transliteration: prelud
"Les préludes sont importants pour une bonne relation intime."
Vorspiel
Transliteration: foh-shpeel
"Ein langes Vorspiel steigert die Intimität."
preliminari
Transliteration: preleminari
"I preliminari sono una parte fondamentale del rapporto."
juegos previos
Transliteration: hue-gos pre-byos
"Los juegos previos ayudan a aumentar la excitación."
foreplay
Transliteration: for-pley
"O foreplay é importante para preparar o corpo."
रतिपूर्व क्रीड़ा
Transliteration: ratipurva krida
"अंतरंगता बढ़ाने के लिए रतिपूर्व क्रीड़ा आवश्यक है।"
前戏
Transliteration: qiánxì
"充分的前戏可以增进伴侣之间的亲密感。"
전희
Transliteration: jeonhui
"충분한 전희는 만족스러운 관계에 도움이 됩니다."
前戯
Transliteration: zengi
"リラックスした雰囲気の中での前戯が大切です。"
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A meal or the food provided and eaten at a meal, often implying a substantial or formal gathering.
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