privates

1. 1
   nouncolloquialplural

   A discreet word for the genitalia and other intimate body parts that are not normally shown in public.

   The doctor asked him to undress so she could examine his privates.

   She kicked her attacker in the privates and broke free.

   Similargenitals, genitalia, groin, crotch

   Note

   A word that exists only in the plural. It takes a plural verb (her privates were undamaged), and it has no singular to fall back on, because "a private" is a soldier. It is a softening word, at home in everyday talk about injury or embarrassment, as in the familiar kick in the privates. Clinical writing usually names the part instead.

2. 2
   noun

   Plural of private.

   The new privates reported for duty at the training camp.

   Several privates were promoted to corporal after the campaign.

   Note

   One regular plural with several meanings: soldiers of the lowest rank, doctors in privately funded practice, and, as a euphemism, the genitals. Context usually settles which is meant. In writing about the army or health care, though, a phrase like "the privates were examined" can raise a smirk, so a fuller wording such as "private soldiers" or "private doctors" keeps the meaning safe.

3. 3
   verb

   Third-person singular simple present indicative of private.

   The moderator privates any thread that turns into an argument.

   Whenever she travels, she privates her photo album for safety.

   Note

   The verb behind this form comes from the Internet. To private a post, video or album is to hide it from public view without deleting it, and the verb always takes an object. It shares its spelling with the plural noun, but the sentence shows which is which: the verb follows a subject and comes before what is hidden, while the noun follows an article or a number.

   He privates his old videos instead of deleting them.

   If a post draws abuse, she privates it until things calm down.

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