English Reference

Word

labia

UK/lˈeɪbiɐ/

Definition

n. the two outer folds of skin that cover the front part of the female genitalia. They protect the more sensitive areas underneath.

n. the two outer folds of fatty tissue and skin that form the external part of the female genitalia. Plural in form; the singular is 'labium'.

Examples

“The labia protect the sensitive skin underneath.”

“During a routine medical exam, the doctor carefully examined the labia for any signs of irritation or infection.”

“The labia vary significantly in size and shape among individuals, serving both a protective function and a role in sexual stimulation through their rich nerve endings.”

Examples

simple

“The labia protect the sensitive skin underneath.”

contextual

“During a routine medical exam, the doctor carefully examined the labia for any signs of irritation or infection.”

complex

“The labia vary significantly in size and shape among individuals, serving both a protective function and a role in sexual stimulation through their rich nerve endings.”

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from Latin labia (“lips”), plural of labium (“lip”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Domain

Anatomy

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/labia

English Reference