carnal

/'kɑ:nl/

Thân thiện

A person enjoys the carnal pleasure of eating a ripe, juicy peach.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Relating to physical, especially sexual, appetites: Pertaining to the body and its physical needs, desires, or pleasures, often in contrast to the spiritual or intellectual.
   • Bodily, fleshly: Of or relating to the physical body or flesh.

Usage and Examples

• General Usage:
  • The novel explores the conflict between spiritual love and carnal desire.
  • He was accused of pursuing only carnal pleasures.
• Specific Context (Legal/Formal):
  • The phrase "carnal knowledge" is an old legal term for sexual intercourse.

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• "Carnal" vs. "Sensual": While both relate to physical pleasure, "carnal" often has a stronger connotation of base, sexual, or animalistic desires. "Sensual" is broader and can refer to pleasure derived from the senses (e.g., taste, touch) without necessarily implying vice.
  • The feast was a sensual experience. (Focus on sensory pleasure from food)
  • He was driven by carnal lust. (Focus on primal, sexual desire)
• Theological/Philosophical Context: Often used to describe worldly or sinful human nature in contrast to a higher, spiritual nature.
  • Medieval monks sought to overcome their carnal instincts.

Variants and Related Words

• Carnality (noun): The state of being carnal; preoccupation with physical, especially sexual, pleasure.
  • The poem warns against the dangers of carnality.
• Incarnate (adjective/verb): Having a bodily form; to embody in flesh. (Shares the Latin root meaning "flesh").
  • He was evil incarnate.

Synonyms

• Fleshly: Of the body; sensual. (Often used in religious contexts).
• Sensual: Relating to the physical senses.
• Animal: Of or like an animal; physical and instinctive.
• Bodily: Of or relating to the body.

Antonyms

• Spiritual: Relating to the spirit or soul, not physical.
• Intellectual: Relating to the intellect or mind.
• Platonic: (Of love or friendship) intimate but not sexual.

Idioms and Fixed Phrases

• Carnal knowledge: (Archaic/Legal) Sexual intercourse.
  • He was charged with having carnal knowledge of a minor.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. of or relating to the body or flesh
   • carnal remains
2. marked by the appetites and passions of the body
   • animal instincts
   • carnal knowledge
   • fleshly desire
   • a sensual delight in eating
   • music is the only sensual pleasure without vice

Từ đồng nghĩa

• animal
• fleshly
• sensual