The difference between Gay and Homosexual

When used as nouns, gay means a homosexual, especially a male homosexual, whereas homosexual means a person who is attracted solely or primarily to others of the same sex.

When used as adjectives, gay means happy, joyful, and lively, whereas homosexual means possessing sexual and/or emotional attraction towards members of the same gender or non-anti-gender area. examples being a male androphile or a female gynephile.

Gay is also verb with the meaning: to make happy or cheerful.

check bellow for the other definitions of Gay and Homosexual

  1. Gay as an adjective (dated, possibly, archaic):

    Happy, joyful, and lively.

    Examples:

    "The Gay Science"

  2. Gay as an adjective (dated, possibly, archaic):

    Festive, bright, or colourful.

    Examples:

    "Pennsylvania Dutch include the plain folk and the gay folk."

  3. Gay as an adjective (obsolete):

    Sexually promiscuous (of any gender).

  4. Gay as an adjective (of a person or animal):

    Homosexual: Possessing sexual and/or emotional attraction towards members of the same gender or non-anti-gender area. Being between two or more people of the same gender or the same gender-area, especially between two men. Intended for gay people, especially gay men. In accordance with stereotypes of homosexual people: # Being in accordance with stereotypes of gay people, especially gay men. # Exhibiting appearance or behavior that accords with stereotypes of gay people, especially gay men. #* Jason Christopher Hartley, “October 23, 2004: This Is My Weapon, This Is My Gerber”, in Just Another Soldier: A Year on the Ground in Iraq, HarperCollins (2005), , [http://books.google.com/books?id=tYh-5LEb6IQC&pg=PA25&dq=gay page 25]: #*:

    Examples:

    "'Gay marriage, though legal here, is still very controversial."

    "'gay sex"

    "'gay acts"

    "Although the number of gay weddings has increased significantly, many gay and lesbian couples — like many straight couples — are not interested in getting married."

    "She professes an undying love for gay bars and gay movies, and even admits to having watched gay porn."

  5. Gay as an adjective (slang, pejorative, dated):

    Effeminate or flamboyant in behavior. : lame, uncool, stupid.

    Examples:

    "synonyms: ghey"

    "This game is gay; let’s play a different one."

  6. Gay as an adjective (of a dog's tail):

    Upright or curved over the back.

  1. Gay as a noun (chiefly, in plural or attributive):

    A homosexual, especially a male homosexual; see also lesbian.

  2. Gay as a noun (obsolete):

    An ornament.

    Examples:

    "rfquotek L'Estrange"

  1. Gay as a verb (transitive, dated, uncommon):

    To make happy or cheerful.

  2. Gay as a verb (transitive, uncommon):

    To cause (something, e.g. AIDS) to be associated with homosexual people.

  1. Gay as a noun:

    The letter —, which stands for the sound , in Pitman shorthand.

  1. Homosexual as an adjective (of a person or animal):

    Possessing sexual and/or emotional attraction towards members of the same gender or non-anti-gender area. Examples being a male androphile or a female gynephile.

  2. Homosexual as an adjective (of a romantic or sexual act or relationship):

    Between two people of the same gender-area; gay.

    Examples:

    "My sister is currently in a homosexual relationship with a girl in her class''."

    "homosexual acts'', ''a homosexual kiss"

  3. Homosexual as an adjective:

    Intended for or used by homosexuals, as a nightclub, a bar, etc.

  1. Homosexual as a noun:

    A person who is attracted solely or primarily to others of the same sex.

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