My BDSM Glossary
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ABRASION- Any form of sensation play involving stroking or brushing the skin with rough, textured objects such as sandpaper, emery boards, and the like.
ABSOLUTE POWER EXCHANGE (APE)- See total power exchange. Usage: Less common than TPE.
AFTERCARE- A period of time after intense BDSM activity in which the dominant partner cares for the submissive partner. Commentary: Some BDSM activities are physically challenging, psychologically intense, or both. After engaging in such activities, the submissive partner may need a safe psychological space to unwind and recover. Aftercare is the process of providing this safe space.
AGE PLAY - A type of role Play to gratify a fetish surrounding age; typically daddy/child or
mommy/child fantasies [see: Infantilism]
Algolagnia - The act of transforming pain into sexual pleasure. A synonym for sadomasochism (SM).
ALGOPHILIA- also, ALGOLAGNIA: Psychology Sexual arousal from receiving pain. See also masochist ; See related pain play, sadomasochism, sadist
ALPHA SUB- Colloquial In a relationship in which one dominant <\l > has more than one submissive, the submissive accorded the greatest power or respect among all the submissives. See related; polyamory: Commentary Not all relationships which have more than one submissive include a hierarchy among the submissives; that is, not all such relationships have an alpha sub.
ALTERNATIVE SEXUALITY- A sexual orientation that differs from a preference for vaginal intercourse (with minor variations) within a monogamous heterosexual relationship.
ALTERNATIVE LIFESTYLE - Having a sexuality that differs significantly from the 'norm' (see:Alternative Sexuality) may make an alternative lifestyle necessary or desirable. A sexual orientation less common than the norm may stigmatize the individual pushing the person to seek a more accepting subculture. An example is homosexuality and the formation of the gay community.
ANAL PLAY - Any sexual or fetish practice concerning the anus and/or rectum, chiefly includes: anal sex, rimming, enema play, and anal fisting.
ANAL TRAINING - Preparation of the anus for anal play.
ANALINGUS- Anal/oral sex. Dental dam or plastic wrap is helpful for preventing exchange of harmful organisms.
ANIMALISM- Any form of role play in which a participant assumes the role of an animal to be trained, such as a horse or dog. See related pony play, puppy play.
ANIMAL PLAY - Role playing wherein one or both partners assumes the role of an animal, chiefly: puppy, dog, and pony.
ANIMAL TRAINING- fantasy play in which one partner is an animal trainer and the other isthe animal. Ponyplay and dogplay are the two most popular forms this takes. Fantasiesincluding obedience training, exercise training, paper-training (in dogplay), harnessing and riding (in ponyplay), and so on. Other popular animal roles include cats (especially kittens),pigs, cows, and worms.
ANKLE CUFFS- Restraints designed to fit the ankles. [see: Cuff, Cuffing]
ARMBINDER- A restraint device consisting of a long sleeve into which both arms are placed, often fitted with laces or straps to hold the arms securely together. An armbinder may also include an integrated collar to prevent the wearer from withdrawing the arms. Also referred to as a single-glove.
ASPHYXIA - see breath control; see related auto-erotic asphyxia.
ASPHYZIATION PLAY - Restricting air (and/or blood) flow by choking to enhance thesensation of orgasm. Very dangerous play, we don't recommend it.
ASYMMETRIC BONDAGE - Any bondage technique in which a person is bound in an asymmetric pose; for example, with one leg extended and one leg bent. Many forms of shibari include asymmetric bondage.
AUCTION - See slave auction.
AUTO-EROTIC ASPHYXIA, also AUTO-EROTIC ASPHYXIATION - A specific form of breath control in which a person who is by himself or herself constricts his or her own breathing, often with a rope or similar implement, while masturbating. Commentary: Often considered among the most dangerous forms of edge play (def. 1). According to some estimates, between five hundred and a thousand people a year die in the United States doing this. It is almost impossible to do safely.
ABSOLUTE POWER EXCHANGE (APE)- See total power exchange. Usage: Less common than TPE.
AFTERCARE- A period of time after intense BDSM activity in which the dominant partner cares for the submissive partner. Commentary: Some BDSM activities are physically challenging, psychologically intense, or both. After engaging in such activities, the submissive partner may need a safe psychological space to unwind and recover. Aftercare is the process of providing this safe space.
AGE PLAY - A type of role Play to gratify a fetish surrounding age; typically daddy/child or
mommy/child fantasies [see: Infantilism]
Algolagnia - The act of transforming pain into sexual pleasure. A synonym for sadomasochism (SM).
ALGOPHILIA- also, ALGOLAGNIA: Psychology Sexual arousal from receiving pain. See also masochist ; See related pain play, sadomasochism, sadist
ALPHA SUB- Colloquial In a relationship in which one dominant <\l > has more than one submissive, the submissive accorded the greatest power or respect among all the submissives. See related; polyamory: Commentary Not all relationships which have more than one submissive include a hierarchy among the submissives; that is, not all such relationships have an alpha sub.
ALTERNATIVE SEXUALITY- A sexual orientation that differs from a preference for vaginal intercourse (with minor variations) within a monogamous heterosexual relationship.
ALTERNATIVE LIFESTYLE - Having a sexuality that differs significantly from the 'norm' (see:Alternative Sexuality) may make an alternative lifestyle necessary or desirable. A sexual orientation less common than the norm may stigmatize the individual pushing the person to seek a more accepting subculture. An example is homosexuality and the formation of the gay community.
ANAL PLAY - Any sexual or fetish practice concerning the anus and/or rectum, chiefly includes: anal sex, rimming, enema play, and anal fisting.
ANAL TRAINING - Preparation of the anus for anal play.
ANALINGUS- Anal/oral sex. Dental dam or plastic wrap is helpful for preventing exchange of harmful organisms.
ANIMALISM- Any form of role play in which a participant assumes the role of an animal to be trained, such as a horse or dog. See related pony play, puppy play.
ANIMAL PLAY - Role playing wherein one or both partners assumes the role of an animal, chiefly: puppy, dog, and pony.
ANIMAL TRAINING- fantasy play in which one partner is an animal trainer and the other isthe animal. Ponyplay and dogplay are the two most popular forms this takes. Fantasiesincluding obedience training, exercise training, paper-training (in dogplay), harnessing and riding (in ponyplay), and so on. Other popular animal roles include cats (especially kittens),pigs, cows, and worms.
ANKLE CUFFS- Restraints designed to fit the ankles. [see: Cuff, Cuffing]
ARMBINDER- A restraint device consisting of a long sleeve into which both arms are placed, often fitted with laces or straps to hold the arms securely together. An armbinder may also include an integrated collar to prevent the wearer from withdrawing the arms. Also referred to as a single-glove.
ASPHYXIA - see breath control; see related auto-erotic asphyxia.
ASPHYZIATION PLAY - Restricting air (and/or blood) flow by choking to enhance thesensation of orgasm. Very dangerous play, we don't recommend it.
ASYMMETRIC BONDAGE - Any bondage technique in which a person is bound in an asymmetric pose; for example, with one leg extended and one leg bent. Many forms of shibari include asymmetric bondage.
AUCTION - See slave auction.
AUTO-EROTIC ASPHYXIA, also AUTO-EROTIC ASPHYXIATION - A specific form of breath control in which a person who is by himself or herself constricts his or her own breathing, often with a rope or similar implement, while masturbating. Commentary: Often considered among the most dangerous forms of edge play (def. 1). According to some estimates, between five hundred and a thousand people a year die in the United States doing this. It is almost impossible to do safely.
