copular

to copulate

verb koh-poo-LAHR Rare

Origin: From Latin copulare (to join, connect), from copula (bond).

Usage Note

Copular is the standard biological and formal term for sexual reproduction in animals. In everyday registers aparearse or colloquial expressions are more common for animals; copular sounds clinical. Note that cópula (copula) has a second grammatical meaning in linguistics: the linking verb (like ser or estar), so context distinguishes the two senses of the root.

Examples

"Los insectos copulan durante pocas horas."

Natural Translation

Insects copulate for only a few hours.

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