copulation
/ˌkɒpjuˈleɪʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌkɑːpjuˈleɪʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌkä-pyə-ˈlā-shən/ (ame, mw)
copulation — noun
1. the physical act in which people or animals have sex with each other.
the physical act in which people or animals have sex with each other.
The film showed snake copulation during the spring breeding season.
formal biology noun: animal mating act
Researchers recorded penguin copulation on the island before sunrise.
pattern: observe or record copulation
The textbook explains how copulation allows sperm to enter the body.
The court heard evidence of forced copulation during the attack.
Biologists observed copulation between the insects under a small lamp.
- sexual intercourse
a formal but less technical term, especially common for people
- mating
more common for animals and breeding behavior
- coitus
a medical or highly formal term, especially in clinical writing
文法句型
copulation between + animals
during copulation
forced copulation
用法筆記
Usually used in formal, scientific, or legal writing rather than everyday conversation. In ordinary speech, people more often say 'sex' or 'sexual intercourse', while 'copulation' is especially common for animals or technical description.