From dictionaries, gorgeous means
But I wonder if calling someone gorgeous, as in she is gorgeous, means beautiful in a sexual way. Does it ?
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1Consider telling your wife your secretary is gorgeous & anticipate the response ;)– DoneWithThis.Commented Apr 14, 2015 at 7:05
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@Tetsujin I am neither married nor British– MAKZCommented Apr 14, 2015 at 10:05
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nor, presumably, still living in the 1950s - but I'm sure you get my point ;)– DoneWithThis.Commented Apr 14, 2015 at 10:23
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@Tetsujin of course– MAKZCommented Apr 14, 2015 at 10:48
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3 Answers
No, there's no implied sexual connotation.
If it did, I'd have been offended when my father called me gorgeous on my wedding day. That would be creepy.
It would also be inappropriate to use the word in relation to non-human things but it's used often in reference to both animate and inanimate objects:
You can be attracted to something without wanting to sleep with it.
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1Your last sentence is remarkable. But comparing with the other answer, i m in a dilemma whether to accept yours or the other one– MAKZCommented Apr 13, 2015 at 19:24
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2@MAKZ It's recommended to not accept answers quickly for exactly that reason. Give it a day and let other people upvote answers and that will tell you which is more accepted as the correct answer.– CatijaCommented Apr 13, 2015 at 19:26
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2You're right, but I'd still recommend caution when using this word. What's appropriate between a father and his daughter on her wedding day might not be appropriate between co-workers at the office water cooler. The word can indeed be used in a non-sexual way, but there are better alternatives in a professional environment, like nice or sharp.– J.R. ♦Commented Apr 13, 2015 at 20:25
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@J.R. Maybe the question should address the environment the OP is using it, then?– CatijaCommented Apr 13, 2015 at 20:27
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@Catija - That would probably help, but I think it's an interesting question as is. I think gorgeous can carry a hint of sexual connotation, but not necessarily always. It's good for the learner to know both sides.– J.R. ♦Commented Apr 14, 2015 at 1:14
Yes, but not in quite the same was as, for instance, "hot". "Attractive" and "beautiful", at least when applied to adult women by men, should be assumed to have a sexual component. So "gorgeous" has such an implication. However, it also often has a connotation of "intimidatingly beautiful", and nothing interferes with men's libido like intimidation.
I would say it does, but I think it's not clear-cut and depends on the speaker. It sounds to me that it literally means that I want to gorge myself on the subject, which is definitely sexual.
