clitoris
n.n. a small, sensitive organ in the female body that is part of the vulva. It is located at the top of the labia minora and is very important for sexual pleasure.
n. the external female organ of sexual arousal, consisting of a small, sensitive erectile body of nerve endings. It is homologous to the penis and is the primary source of sexual sensation in females.
The clitoris is highly sensitive to touch.
Understanding the anatomy of the clitoris is essential for providing accurate information about female sexual health.
The clitoris contains approximately 8,000 nerve endings, making it one of the most sensitive parts of the human body and a central focus in discussions of sexual response and pleasure.
From post-classical Latin clītoris (16th century), or its source, Koine Greek κλειτορίς (kleitorís), probably from Ancient Greek κλείω (kleíō, “I sheathe, shut”), in reference to it being covered by the labia minora. The related noun form κλείς (kleís) has a second meaning of "a key, a latch or hook (to close a door)." Wooden pegs were the original keys; a connection also revealed in Latin clavis (“nail”) and claudere (“to shut”) (see close). Some medical sources give a supposed Greek verb κλειτοριάζω (kleitoriázō, “touch or titillate lasciviously, tickle”) literally "to be inclined (toward pleasure)" (compare German Kitzler (“clitoris”, literally “tickler”), related to Greek κλειτύς (kleitús, “shut, closed”), a variant of κλιτύς (klitús, “hillside”), related to κλίνω (klínō, “I slope”), from the same root as κλῖμαξ (klîmax, “ladder”). But many sources take κλειτορίς (kleitorís) literally as Ancient Greek "little hill".