Definition

1. Noun:

   • A person who has never engaged in sexual intercourse: This is the most common meaning, referring to someone, typically but not exclusively a woman, who has not had sex.
   • (Capitalized, often 'the Virgin'): A title for the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus in Christian belief.
   • (Astrology): The sixth sign of the zodiac (Virgo), or a person born under this sign (approximately August 23 - September 22).

2. Adjective:

   • Being in a state of sexual virginity; chaste: Describing someone who has never had sex.
   • Pure, untouched, or unsullied: Describing a state of original purity or innocence.
   • Being used, worked, or explored for the first time; pristine: Describing something in its original, natural, or unspoiled condition.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • She chose to remain a virgin until marriage.
  • Many paintings depict the Virgin and Child.
  • As a Virgo, she is very organized.

• Adjective:

  • He married a virgin bride.
  • They were exploring the virgin forest, untouched by humans.
  • This bottle contains virgin olive oil from the first cold pressing.

Advanced Usage

• "Virgin territory": An area of land or a field of study that has not been explored or developed.

  • This research is breaking new ground in what was previously virgin territory for science.

• "Virgin flight/voyage": The first official journey of a new aircraft or ship.

  • The ocean liner sank on its virgin voyage.

Variants and Related Words

• Virginal (adj): Relating to or characteristic of a virgin; pure, chaste, or untouched.
  • She had a virginal innocence about her.
• Virginity (n): The state of being a virgin.
  • He lost his virginity at the age of eighteen.

Synonyms

• Noun (person): Maiden, celibate.
• Adjective (pure/untouched): Chaste, pure, pristine, untouched, unspoiled, immaculate.

Related Phrases

• Technical virgin: (Informal) A person who defines their virginity in a way that excludes some sexual acts.
• Virgin birth: A biological process where offspring are produced without fertilization (parthenogenesis), or the Christian doctrine of Jesus's birth to a virgin mother.

Related Idioms

• As pure as the driven snow: Extremely pure or innocent (similar in concept to virginal purity).
• Untouched by human hand: In a completely natural state (similar to the adjectival use of 'virgin').

Adjective

1. in a state of sexual virginity
   • pure and vestal modesty
   • a spinster or virgin lady
   • men have decreed that their women must be pure and virginal
2. being used or worked for the first time
   • virgin wool

Noun

1. the sixth sign of the zodiac; the sun is in this sign from about August 23 to September 22
2. (astrology) a person who is born while the sun is in Virgo
3. a person who has never had sex