ENGLISH
REFERENCE

libido

n. C / U
C1 Advanced US //ɫəˈbidoʊ// UK //lɪbˈiːdəʊ// li·bido

n. the natural desire for sex. It is a psychological term used to describe how much interest a person has in sexual activity.

n. the psychic energy or drive associated with sexual instinct. In modern psychological and medical contexts, it refers specifically to sexual desire or drive.


SIMPLE

Stress and lack of sleep can lower your libido.

CONTEXTUAL

The doctor explained that the patient's low libido was likely a side effect of the new medication.

Origin

Learned borrowing from Latin libīdō (“lust, desire”). Used originally in psychoanalytic contexts.

Usage

Uncountable when referring to the general concept of sexual drive; countable when comparing different levels or types of drive.

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