Etymology From Latin Lesbiana, from Ancient Greek Λέσβος (Lésbos) + Latin adjective suffix -iana; by reference to Sappho of Lesbos (whence also sapphist, sapphic), known for her sentimental poems about women. This sense of the word may have been borrowed from, or influenced by, the German cognate lesbisch, where it is found in medical literature from the 1830s.
1
Of a woman Homosexual, gay; preferring exclusively women as romantic or sexual partners.
Lesbian fans of the show were rooting for Jane and Amanda to get together.
2
Broadly, Of a woman Preferring primarily women as romantic or sexual partners.
3
Between two or more women; homosexual, gay.
Of a romantic or sexual act or relationship
a lesbian relationship / marriage / kiss
The so-termed Lesbian love is a vice of a still more hideous and degrading nature than pederasty.1855 [1854], Charles Hempel, transl., Homœopathic guide in all diseases of the Urinary and Sexual Organs, Philadelphia: Rademacher & Sheek, translation of Der homöopathische Rathgeber: in allen Krankheiten der Geschlechts- und Harnwerkzeuge by Wilhelm Gollmann, page 201:
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[…] Madonna's infamous nationally televised lesbian kiss with Britney Spears […]2011, Michael Bruce, Robert M. Stewart, College Sex - Philosophy for Everyone, →ISBN, page 32:
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Especially, Of an institution or group Intended for lesbians.
We're going to a lesbian bar tonight.
Some lesbians also felt comfortable in the entertainment clubs in the black section of the city; these clubs were not lesbian but were lesbian friendly.2000, Bonnie Zimmerman, Encyclopedia of lesbian and gay histories and cultures, volume 1, page 135:
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Openly gay poets such as Allen Ginsberg were prominent among the beats, and many North Beach bars were gay and lesbian as well as bohemian.2008, Carl Abbott, How cities won the West: four centuries of urban change, page 283:
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Archaic Alternative letter-case form of Lesbian (“of or pertaining to the island of Lesbos”).
Etymology From Latin Lesbiana, from Ancient Greek Λέσβος (Lésbos) + Latin adjective suffix -iana; by reference to Sappho of Lesbos (whence also sapphist, sapphic), known for her sentimental poems about women. This sense of the word may have been borrowed from, or influenced by, the German cognate lesbisch, where it is found in medical literature from the 1830s.
1
A homosexual woman, a woman who is exclusively sexually or romantically attracted to other women.
There have also been women who loved other women. These are the Lesbians or Tribades.1904, Jacobus X, Crossways of Sex: A Study in Eroto-pathology, volume 1, page 2:
Another Spanish-speaking respondent said that she does not identify as a lesbian because that is a term for women who like women, and as she does not like women, and so she cannot be a lesbian.2020, Ana Patrícia Hilário, Fábio Rafael Augusto, Practical and Ethical Dilemmas in Researching Sensitive Topics with Populations Considered Vulnerable, page 91:
2
Uncommon A female animal that performs courtship, pairing or mating behavior with other female animals.
There was one recently that determined on an island off California 14 percent of the female sea gulls were lesbians (and we know that kind of thing would never go among Nantucket sea gulls).1979, Terry Hekker, Ever Since Adam and Eve, New York: Morrow:
The only between this pair and others in the community is that they are among the 8 to 14 percent of the residents that are lesbians. After building their nest, the pair, two female western gulls, customarily produce twice as many eggs […]2014, George H Harrison, Birds Do It, Too: The Amazing Sex Life of Birds, Willow Creek Press, →ISBN:
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Archaic Alternative letter-case form of Lesbian (“native or inhabitant of Lesbos.”).
Etymology From Latin Lesbiana, from Ancient Greek Λέσβος (Lésbos) + Latin adjective suffix -iana; by reference to Sappho of Lesbos (whence also sapphist, sapphic), known for her sentimental poems about women. This sense of the word may have been borrowed from, or influenced by, the German cognate lesbisch, where it is found in medical literature from the 1830s.
1
Ambitransitive, Informal, Nonstandard To (cause to) take part in lesbian sex, or other lesbian activity.
That's the way I want to go – Lesbianed to death.2014, Ian Collin, Angels of The North, page 107:
Surveillance by other inmates creates yet another dimension of power and control. Angry with Chapman and Vause, Dogget tells Healy that she has witnessed the two “lesbianing” in the shower, […]2016, April Kalogeropoulos Householder, Adrienne Trier-Bieniek, Feminist Perspectives on Orange Is the New Black, page 85:
Lesbian
noun
Etymology From Latin Lesbius (“Lesbian”) (for further etymology, see Ancient Greek Λέσβος (Lésbos)) + adjective suffix -an, from Latin adjective suffix -anus. The sense of “gay woman” is a reference to Sappho, a famous inhabitant of Lesbos and gay poet.
1
A native or inhabitant of Lesbos.
2
Human sciences, Linguistics, Sciences The variety of Aeolic Greek spoken on Lesbos from about 800 to 300 b.c., best known from the writings of Sappho and Alcaeus of Mytilene.
3
Historical A sweet, mild wine made on Lesbos in ancient times.
Our Saviour in the gospel preferreth old wine before new; & Aristotle liketh better of the wine of Lesbos, the the^([sic]) wine of Rhodes; he affirmeth both to be good, but the Lesbian the more pleasant, alluding vnder that parable to the successour of his schoole, and noting his choise rather of Theophrastus borne at Lesbos, then Menedemus at Rhodes.1597, John King, Lectures upon Jonas […] , page 1:
[…] but the best Greek Wines, the Chian, Lesbian, Coan, &c. were equally prepared in the same manner; and we have reason to think that the same process was more generally used, and in preparing some of the best and most generous Italian wines.1775, Edward Barry, Observations, Historical, Critical, and Medical, on the Wines of the Ancients, page 99:
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More capacious bowls bring hither, boy, and the Chian wine or the Lesbian : or what might restrain this flowing qualm;1841, William Jacobs, The self-instructing Latin classic, page 187:
Horace, born 65 B.C., says that there is no wine sweeter to drink than Lesbian, and that it was perfectly harmless and would not produce intoxication.1886, John Ellis, The Wine Question in the Light of the New Dispensation, page 12:
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Alternative letter-case form of lesbian (“gay woman”).
Lesbian
adj
Etymology From Latin Lesbius (“Lesbian”) (for further etymology, see Ancient Greek Λέσβος (Lésbos)) + adjective suffix -an, from Latin adjective suffix -anus. The sense of “gay woman” is a reference to Sappho, a famous inhabitant of Lesbos and gay poet.
1
Of or pertaining to the island of Lesbos.
Within twenty-four hours of quitting the security of a Lesbian port, all the contrarieties I had experienced were to be exceeded by the horrors of a tremendous hurricane.1805, J. Griffiths, Travels in Europe, Asia Minor, and Arabia, London: T. Cadell, page 232:
2
Human sciences, Linguistics, Sciences Of or pertaining to the Lesbian variety of Aeolic Greek.
3
Alternative letter-case form of lesbian (“of women: gay”).
Except two breeds—the stupid and the narrowly feline—all women have a touch of the Lesbian: an assertion all good non-analytic creatures refute with horror, but quite true: there is always the poignant intensive personal taste, the flair of inner-sex, in the tenderest friendships of women.1901, Mary MacLane, edited by Margo Culley, A Day at a Time, published 1985:
One woman wrote, “Because you are Black and Lesbian, you seem to speak with the moral authority of suffering.” Yes, I am Black and Lesbian, and what you hear in my voice is fury, not suffering.1984, Audre Lorde, Sister Outsider:
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1989, Florence King, Reflections in a Jaundiced Eye http://books.google.com/books?ie=UTF-8&hl=en&id=dUgPxKzVq9AC&pg=PA95&lpg=PA95&sig=S6zgYpw5y_WwqtsoCEvYZdb6Bds Suddenly open enrollment struck the Sapphic elite and dykes-for-the-masses were everywhere. We got the Lesbian detective, the Lesbian ghost, the Lesbian vampire, the possessed Lesbian, the Lesbian next door, the Lesbian with a heart of gold, the kept Lesbian, the other Lesbian, the Lesbian amnesiac, the Lesbian with cancer, and just plain Butch.