refractory period

noun

The period, after excitation, during which a membrane recovers its polarization and is not able to respond to a second stimulus.

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Meanings

nounrefractory period (plural refractory periods)

plural refractory periods

  1. biologyThe period, after excitation, during which a membrane recovers its polarization and is not able to respond to a second stimulus.
  2. A recovery phase after orgasm, during which it is physiologically impossible for an individual to have additional orgasms.

Translations

Catalan període refractari
  • període refractarirecovery phase after orgasm
Chinese Mandarin 不應期 /不应期, 賢者時間 /贤者时间
  • 不應期 /不应期 (bùyīngqī)recovery phase after orgasm
  • 賢者時間 /贤者时间 (xiánzhě shíjiān)recovery phase after orgasm
Icelandic tornæmistími, hleðslutími
  • tornæmistímirecovery phase after orgasm
  • hleðslutímirecovery phase after orgasm
Portuguese período refratário
  • período refratáriorecovery phase after orgasm
Spanish periodo refractario, período refractario
  • periodo refractariorecovery phase after orgasm
  • período refractariorecovery phase after orgasm
Cite this entry
APA

refractory period. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/refractory%20period

MLA

“refractory period.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/refractory%20period. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “refractory period,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/refractory%20period.

Source: refractory period on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.