copulate

verb

cop·​u·​late ˈkä-pyə-ˌlāt How to pronounce copulate (audio)
copulated; copulating

intransitive verb

: to engage in sexual intercourse
copulation noun
copulatory adjective

Examples of copulate in a Sentence

Some animals have complex mating rituals before they copulate. the time of year when deer in the wild are likely to copulate
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Its first appearance in American print resulted from an 1846 Missouri court case in which a man stood accused of copulating with a horse. Dan Piepenbring, Harper's Magazine, 23 Sep. 2024 Advertisement All of the male apes at the sanctuary receive vasectomies, but that does not preclude them from copulating. Amy Kaufman, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2024 Paired with the orchid’s unique color and shape, these adaptations lure male wasps from afar and inspire them to try to copulate with the flower, covering the wasps with pollen in the process. Liz Lindqwister, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 July 2024 Now, for the first time ever, citizen scientists have photographed two humpback whales copulating. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for copulate 

Word History

Etymology

Latin copulatus, past participle of copulare to join, from copula — see copula

First Known Use

1630, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of copulate was in 1630

Dictionary Entries Near copulate

Cite this Entry

“Copulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/copulate. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

copulate

verb
cop·​u·​late ˈkäp-yə-ˌlāt How to pronounce copulate (audio)
copulated; copulating
: to engage in sexual intercourse
copulation noun
copulatory adjective

Medical Definition

copulate

intransitive verb
cop·​u·​late ˈkäp-yə-ˌlāt How to pronounce copulate (audio)
copulated; copulating
1
: to engage in sexual intercourse
2
of gametes : to fuse permanently compare conjugate sense 1
copulation noun

More from Merriam-Webster on copulate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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