I. ə̇ˈräd.]ik, ēˈ-, eˈ-, -ät], ]ēk adjective
also erot·i·cal ]ə̇kəl, ]ēk-
Etymology: French & Greek; French érotique, from Greek erōtikos, from erōt-, erōs sexual love + -ikos -ic, -ical — more at eros
1. : of, devoted to, or tending to arouse sexual love or desire: as
a. : treating of or depicting sexual love (as by sensuous or voluptuous description) : amatory
a poem erotic rather than lyric that delights in feminine beauty and amorous feelings
erotic folk dances depicting courtship with mock teasing and coaxing
b. : tending to excite sexual pleasure or desire
erotic dreams
the erotic power of perfume
c. : directed toward sexual gratification
his erotic adventures with prostitutes
a personality with strong erotic drives
d. : strongly affected by sexual desire
an erotic person
2. : of or relating to eros
the dominance of the erotic over the death instinct
• erot·i·cal·ly ]ə̇k(ə)lē, ]ēk-, -li\ adverb
II. noun
( -s )
1. : a theory or doctrine of love
developed a mystical erotic
2. : an erotic person
sex-filled paperbacks suggesting the prevalence of erotics