Naked
Etymology
Middle English, from Old English nacod; akin to Old High German nackot naked, Latin nudus, Greek gymnos
- Date: before 12th century
Definitions
- 1 : not covered by clothing : nude
- 2 : devoid of customary or natural covering : bare: as a : not enclosed in a scabbard b : not provided with a shade c of a plant or one of its parts : lacking pubescence or enveloping or subtending parts d : lacking foliage or vegetation e of an animal or one of its parts : lacking an external covering (as of hair, feathers, or shell)
- 3 a : scantily supplied or furnished b : lacking embellishment : unadorned
- 4 : unarmed, defenseless
- 5 : lacking confirmation or support
- 6 : devoid of concealment or disguise
- 7 : unaided by any optical device or instrument <the naked eye>
- 8 : not backed by the writer's ownership of the commodity contract or security
Description
Nudity is the state of wearing no clothing. Nudity may arise in a multitude of situations, in either sexualized or non-sexualized contexts. Besides the need to be nude when washing, some people also sleep in the nude, while others are nude in other situations. The duration that a person is nude also varies depending on the situation, with some people choosing to live a nudist lifestyle, while others do so in a fleeting moment, as in exhibitionism, or occasionally, such as nude swimming. Nudity has been portrayed in a multitude of media, from art, photography, film and on the Internet. It is a factor in adult entertainment of various types. Nudity in the presence of other people may give rise to controversy.
Many people have strong views on nudity, which to them raise issues and standards of modesty, decency and morality. At the same time, the erotic aspect of nudity has attracted an audience at all times in human history.
The term is sometimes used to refer to wearing significantly less clothing than would be expected by the conventions of a particular culture and situation, and in particular exposing the bare skin or intimate parts.