Sex Toy Glossary A–Z: 26 Terms Explained

Product pages use words never explained on the page itself: air-pulse, thrusting, IPX7, insertable length, dual stimulation. This glossary defines them in plain language, in alphabetical order. Every definition uses only what that product's own listing states — if a listing does not state a material, size or feature, this glossary does not claim it.

Use it two ways: look up one word from a product page, or read it through before shopping. Links in each entry point to the guide covering that term.

Air-pulse stimulation

Pulses of air aimed at one small area, instead of a motor buzzing. The rose toy is the best-known example: it pulses air through a small opening rather than vibrating. Our rose toy's listing states 10 suction modes, USB charging, a 78 × 60 mm body and a suction opening of about 12 mm; its product images show it as quiet and rinseable. See what a rose toy is and how to use one.

Anal beads

Graduated beads on a flexible cord, with a handle or ring at the end so the beads can be pulled out one at a time. The beads get larger along the string, so the feeling changes as each passes. Our main beads product is the Black Anal Beads with External Handle (96 in stock, verified 2026-11-13). The Anal Beads collection now holds a second product, a silicone anal plug: a plug, not beads. Wash beads like any toy — warm water, mild soap, fully dry — paying attention to the cord and joins, where residue collects. See how to clean sex toys by material and design.

Bullet vibrator

A small, slim vibrator, usually no longer than a finger, for precise external use. We do not currently stock a bullet vibrator, so there is no bullet product page to link yet.

Butt plug

A short plug designed to stay in place, with a wide, flared base that stops it going further than intended — the flared base is the point of the design, not decoration. See sex toy materials, care and storage.

Clitoral stimulator

Any toy made for external stimulation of the clitoris, rather than insertion — the rose toy is the clearest example in our range. The category is defined by where it is used, not by how it is powered — it can be a vibrator, an air-pulse toy or a small wand. See what a rose toy is and how to choose a quiet toy.

Cock ring

A ring worn around the base of the penis, or around the penis and testicles, to keep an erection firmer for longer. Rings in our range are sold as penis rings — none is listed under the name "cock ring" itself. Our cock ring guide suggests 20–30 minutes at a time; take the ring off sooner if anything feels numb or uncomfortable. See what a cock ring does and how to use one.

Dildo

A toy shaped for insertion, with no motor — unlike a vibrator, it does not vibrate. Dildos vary by length, diameter, material and base. The two numbers that matter most are total length and insertable length — not the same thing (see Insertable length below). Our 9 Inch Contoured Realistic Dildo states PVC, 9.05 inches total with 6.5 insertable and 1.77 in diameter, a suction base, $49.00. See how to choose a dildo: size, material and type.

Dual stimulation

Stimulation of two areas at once, usually internal and external together — a rabbit vibrator is the standard example: a shaft plus a smaller arm that rests outside. Some add a thrusting motion to the shaft as well (see Thrusting). It is a design, not a guarantee — whether the two parts line up depends on the toy's shape and the person using it. See how to use a vibrator: a beginner's guide.

Fleshlight-style masturbator

A sleeve or cup for stroking the penis, often with a textured inner channel. "Fleshlight" is a brand name, not a type — our store sells its own cups, not the Fleshlight brand, and lists them as masturbators or aircraft cups. Three aircraft-cup products are live in the store. Rinse inside the channel, dry it fully, and do not store it damp. See how to clean sex toys by material and design.

G-spot

A sensitive area on the front wall of the vagina, a few inches inside, that responds to firm, curved pressure — which is why G-spot toys are curved. Our 9-inch dildo is listed as a G-spot design, curve and 6.5-inch insertable length stated on the page. See how to choose a dildo.

Glass

Firm, rigid and smooth, cool at first touch and heavier than a silicone or PVC toy of the same size; real glass does not bend. We have no verified glass product. The 8-inch black suction-cup dildo lists glass and flexible at the same time in its own backend — a contradiction, since real glass is rigid; and both Crystal-Look products list PVC, not glass. So neither is presented as glass anywhere on this site. Before using any glass toy, check it for chips or cracks, and do not use one with either. See glass vs silicone dildos: feel and safety and sex toy materials, care and storage.

Insertable length

How much of a toy can go inside the body — always shorter than the total length, because the base or handle stays outside. Our 9-inch dildo: 9.05 inches total, 6.5 insertable. Our Thick Sucker: 10.0 inches total, 7.87 insertable. Both are 1.77 inches in diameter, so the difference between them is length and shape, not thickness. When a listing states only one length, do not assume it is the insertable one. See the 12-inch guide and the 10-inch guide.

IPX rating

A standard scale for water resistance: IPX7 means the toy can be submerged in shallow water for a short time; lower ratings mean splashes only; no rating means the listing promises none at all. Only one of our products has a verified IPX7 rating — the moving-tip rose model — and this glossary does not extend that rating to any other product. "Waterproof" and "rinseable" are not the same thing: a rinseable toy can be washed under running water, a waterproof one can go under water. Our 9-inch dildo is shown as waterproof in its product images, and the rose toy as rinseable. See waterproof sex toys: how to choose for bath and shower.

Metal

The heaviest common toy material: firm, rigid, cool at first touch, heavier than a silicone or PVC toy of the same size. It cleans with the same routine — warm water, mild soap, rinse, dry. Check for any coating or plating first, store it separately from softer toys so it does not mark or dent them, and never put it away wet. See sex toy materials, care and storage.

Prostate massager

A curved toy shaped to reach the prostate, a sensitive gland a few inches inside the rectum, through the front wall. The curve and slim shape make it a prostate massager rather than a general plug. Our Prostate Massagers collection lists 17 products, but only two or three are true prostate designs — the rest are plugs and beads under the same heading, so read the shape on each listing rather than trusting the collection name. See how to choose: size, material and type.

PVC

A common, soft plastic used in many textured and realistic toys; our 9-inch dildo states PVC plainly on its spec table. PVC toys are often the textured ones — grooves, ridges, a realistic shape, a suction base — but texture is a hint, not proof; only the spec table settles the material. Wash after every use, working into the texture and under the rim of the suction cup by hand, rinse well and dry fully. See sex toy materials, care and storage.

Rabbit vibrator

A vibrator with two parts: a shaft for insertion and a smaller arm — the "rabbit ears" — stimulating outside at the same time. The two parts have to line up with the body to work together, so a rabbit that fits one person may not fit another — check the shaft length, the arm length and the gap between them. See how to use a vibrator: a beginner's guide.

Realistic

A design imitating the look and feel of a body part: skin-like colour, veins, a shaped head, sometimes a soft outer layer over a firmer core. "Realistic" describes the design, not the material — a realistic dildo can be silicone, PVC or TPE, and the material is stated separately on the listing. Our 9-inch dildo is the realistic example used through our guides: PVC, textured, suction base, $49.00. See realistic vs non-realistic dildos: which feels better.

Rose toy

A small, rose-shaped air-pulse stimulator for external use: it looks like a flower and works by pulsing air through a small opening, not by vibrating. Our rose toy states 10 suction modes (an older listing said 7, corrected against the product images), USB charging, 78 × 60 mm and a suction opening of about 12 mm; its images show it as quiet and rinseable. Its silicone is not confirmed as hypoallergenic by our supplier, so this glossary does not call it that; the IPX7 rating belongs to a different rose model with a moving tip, not to this one. See what a rose toy is and how to use one.

Silicone

The most forgiving toy material to look after: smooth, flexible without being floppy, easiest to clean — warm water, mild soap, rinse until the water runs clear, dry fully. Feel alone is not proof of silicone, since soft PVC can feel similar; the spec table settles it. Our Thick Sucker states silicone: 10.0 inches total, 7.87 insertable, 1.77 in diameter, suction base, no motor, $80.00. See sex toy materials, care and storage.

Strap-on

A dildo worn in a harness so one partner can use it on the other, hands-free. It needs a flared base or a suction cup to sit in the harness, which is what holds it in place. Strap-on products are filed under our Dildos collection, not a separate one. The dildo itself is an ordinary dildo, and the harness is a separate piece of kit. See how to choose a dildo: size, material and type.

Suction cup

A cup-shaped base that sticks to a smooth, flat surface so the toy can be used hands-free. Both guide examples have one: the 9-inch PVC dildo ($49.00) and the Thick Sucker ($80.00, silicone). A suction cup needs its own cleaning step — rinse under the rim and dry it as carefully as the shaft, because a cup stored damp is the most common reason a dildo starts to smell. It only sticks to smooth surfaces, not fabric, wood or a rough wall. See suction vs vibration: what's the difference.

Thrusting

A motor that moves the shaft in and out, instead of (or as well as) vibrating it. A thrusting toy feels closer to a stroking motion than a buzzing one; thrusting depth and speed are the numbers that matter, though our listings do not state mode counts, so this glossary quotes none. Thrusting is a mechanism, not a product type: thrusting dildos and thrusting vibrators both exist. See thrusting dildo and vibrator guide.

TPE

A family of soft, flexible materials, often very lifelike to the touch. TPE is generally more porous than silicone or glass, so residue and moisture are harder to remove — wash the same way, and take drying more seriously, including any fold, groove or suction base. The listing may state TPE, or it may state nothing at all; where it states nothing, treat the toy by its design and do not guess a material. See sex toy materials, care and storage.

USB charging

Charging by USB cable instead of disposable batteries. Most of our vibrating products charge by USB, including the rose toy and the rechargeable dildo ($50.88, 41 in stock, verified 2026-11-13). USB charging is a feature, not a quality mark — dry the charging port before charging. This glossary does not quote charging times, because our listings do not state them. See how to use a vibrator: a beginner's guide.

Wand

A vibrator with a handle and a large, rounded head, first sold as a body massager. The broad head stimulates a wider area than a bullet or a rose toy, and it is usually the strongest-feeling option in a range — and the loudest. Wands are well stocked in our store. Clean the head carefully, working around the seam where it meets the handle. See how to choose a quiet toy and best travel sex toys.

That is the whole glossary: 26 terms, from air-pulse to wand. If a word on a product page is not here, it is probably covered in a guide linked above — the cleaning flagship for care, the materials guide for materials, and the size and type guide for choosing. New terms will be added as new products arrive — the bullet entry will change the day a bullet vibrator is listed.