• (British) IPA: /ˌmæstəˈbeɪʃ(ə)n/, /ˌmɑːstəˈbeɪʃ(ə)n/
• (America) enPR: măs'tərbāʹshən, IPA: /ˌmæstɚˈbeɪʃən/

masturbation (uncountable)

1. Manual erotic stimulation of the genitals or other erotic regions, often to orgasm, either by oneself or a partner.

   Masturbation is our first and natural form of sexual activity and if that's inhibited or damaged, then we suffer for the rest of our lives. ―Betty Dodson

   • 1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 12, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes, […], book II, printed at London: By Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], OCLC 946730821 ↗:

     Diogenes in sight of all, exercising his Masturbation, bred a longing desire in the bystanders, that in such sort they might fill their bellies by rubbing or clawing the same.

2. (figurative) A vain activity.

• See also Thesaurus:masturbation
• fingering, rolling the pill, bean flicking (female masturbation)

• masturbate
• masturbator
• masturbatory

• French: masturbation, onanisme, branlette (slang)
• German: Masturbation, Onanie, Selbstbefriedigung
• Italian: masturbazione
• Portuguese: masturbação, punheta (slang)
• Russian: мастурба́ция
• Spanish: masturbación, paja (slang)