seminal fluid

IPA/ˌsem.ɪ.nəl ˈfluː.ɪd/
IPA/ˈsem.ə.nəl ˌfluː.ɪd/

seminal fluid — noun

1. The thick white liquid that contains sperm cells and is released from the penis

1.名詞C1
釋義

The thick white liquid that contains sperm cells and is released from the penis during sexual activity.

例句

The biology teacher showed the class how a single drop of seminal fluid contains millions of sperm cells.

uncountable noun with measure phrase: a drop of seminal fluid

A small sample of seminal fluid is sent to the lab to check the number and health of the sperm.

collocation: sample of seminal fluid

同義詞
  • semen

    the direct synonym; 'semen' is slightly more clinical, 'seminal fluid' more descriptive

  • ejaculate

    refers to the entire fluid released in a single ejaculation event; more technical

文法句型

seminal fluid + verb (singular)

用法筆記

Often used as a polite or clinical equivalent of 'semen' in medical and educational contexts. The term is uncountable; do not say 'a seminal fluid' or 'seminal fluids'.

常見錯誤

The doctor examined a seminal fluid.
The doctor examined a sample of seminal fluid.
💡'seminal fluid' is uncountable; use 'a sample of / a drop of' for a specific instance.
Seminal fluids contain sperm.
Seminal fluid contains sperm.
💡the term is singular uncountable, even though it refers to a liquid with multiple components.

2. The liquid produced by male glands such as the prostate and seminal vesicles, wh

2.名詞C2
釋義

The liquid produced by male glands such as the prostate and seminal vesicles, which mixes with sperm cells at the moment of release but does not itself contain sperm cells.

例句

Fertility specialists sometimes separate the sperm cells from the seminal fluid before treatment.

technical collocation: separate X from seminal fluid

The seminal fluid provides nutrients and protection for the sperm cells as they travel through the female body.

同義詞
  • seminal plasma

    the exact technical term for the fluid portion; 'seminal plasma' is the preferred term in scientific writing

  • prostatic fluid

    refers specifically to the part produced by the prostate, not the entire fluid

文法句型

seminal fluid + verb (singular)

用法筆記

In this narrower sense, 'seminal fluid' contrasts with 'sperm' or 'spermatozoa' — the fluid is the transport medium, not the reproductive cells themselves. Distinguish from sense 1, where 'seminal fluid' refers to the whole ejaculate including sperm.

常見錯誤

The seminal fluid contains millions of sperm cells.' (in the narrow sense)
The seminal fluid surrounds and nourishes the sperm cells.
💡in this technical sense, seminal fluid does not include sperm; they are separate components.