Glossary
56 words you'll run into around intimacy, consent, materials, kink, and room design, each in a sentence or two. Plain language, no judgment. Browse A to Z, or by 6 topics.
56 terms
A
- Acoustic panelDesign & Space
- A fabric-wrapped panel, usually filled with dense mineral wool, fiberglass, or foam, mounted on a wall to absorb sound. Panels cut echo so a room sounds softer and quieter inside, but they do little to stop sound passing through a wall into the next room.
- See also Blackout lining, Discreet design
- AftercareConsent & Communication
- The attention partners give each other as intensity winds down: water, warmth, reassurance, a quiet check-in. It's part of the experience, not an afterthought, and it's what makes people feel cared for.
- See also Safeword, Subspace
- Air-pulseToys & Technology
- Sometimes called “pleasure air”: gentle, rhythmic changes in air pressure for a focused, indirect sensation that feels quite unlike vibration and stays sensitive longer for many people.
- See also Vibrator, Rumbly
- App-controlledToys & Technology
- A toy paired to a smartphone app for remote or partner control, across the room or across a distance. The headline feature is worth it only when the connection is reliable.
- See also Vibrator
B
- BDSMKink & BDSM
- An umbrella term for bondage, discipline, dominance, submission, and related consensual practices. Whatever the activity, it rests on trust, communication, and consent.
- See also Consent, Safeword, SSC (Safe, Sane, Consensual)
- Blackout liningDesign & Space
- A dense, light-blocking layer sewn to the back of curtains or hung as a separate liner. It keeps out streetlight and early sun, hides lamplight inside from the street, and adds weight that helps curtains hang well.
- See also Acoustic panel, Discreet design
- Body-safeMaterials & Safety
- Made from non-porous, non-toxic materials that can be properly cleaned: high-quality silicone, stainless steel, borosilicate glass, or ABS plastic. Not marketing: a real distinction worth checking.
- See also Non-porous, Silicone, Phthalates
- BondageKink & BDSM
- The consensual use of restraints to limit movement, from soft ties to dedicated gear. Comfort and quick release come first. Always keep safety scissors within reach when starting out.
- See also Restraint, Safeword
- BoucléDesign & Space
- A fabric woven or knitted from looped yarn, which gives it a nubby, textured surface. It's popular on chairs, benches, and headboards for the warmth and texture it adds, though the loops can snag on jewelry and pet claws.
- See also Dual-purpose furniture
- BoundariesConsent & Communication
- The limits each person sets on what they're open to. Naming them in advance, calmly and specifically, is what makes exploring anything new feel safe rather than fraught.
- See also Hard limit, Soft limit, Consent
C
- Color temperature (Kelvin)Design & Space
- How warm or cool a light looks, measured in kelvin (K). For a bedroom, the best choice is about 2700K, the soft, golden glow sold as "warm white." Lower numbers look warmer, and 4000K and above looks cool and bright.
- See also Layered lighting
- ConsentConsent & Communication
- An ongoing, freely given, enthusiastic agreement to a specific activity. It can be withdrawn at any moment, and its absence means stop. Consent is the foundation everything else at Braise is built on.
- See also Enthusiastic consent, Boundaries, Safeword
D
- Discreet designDesign & Space
- Designing an intimate space so it simply looks like a beautifully considered bedroom, with its function revealed only on your terms. Discretion is about control over what's visible and when, not hiding.
- See also Dual-purpose furniture
- DominantKink & BDSM
- The partner who takes a leading or controlling role in a scene, by mutual agreement. A role of responsibility as much as authority.
- See also Submissive, Switch, Scene
- Dual-purpose furnitureDesign & Space
- Pieces that read as ordinary, considered decor by day and reveal an intimate function only when you want them to, the heart of discreet design.
- See also Discreet design
E
- EdgingBody & Wellness
- Deliberately approaching the brink of climax and easing off, sometimes repeatedly, to build and prolong intensity.
- Enthusiastic consentConsent & Communication
- A clear, positive “yes” rather than the mere absence of a “no.” It's the standard worth holding to for anything new. If it isn't an enthusiastic yes, treat it as a not-yet.
- See also Consent, Boundaries
H
- Hard limitConsent & Communication
- An activity that is completely off the table, no exceptions. Hard limits are always respected without negotiation.
- See also Soft limit, Boundaries
I
- Impact playKink & BDSM
- Consensual striking (for example with a hand or paddle) within clearly agreed limits, keeping to fleshy areas and away from anywhere unsafe.
- See also Sensation play, Scene
K
- KegelsBody & Wellness
- Exercises that condition the pelvic-floor muscles through repeated contraction and release. (General education, not medical advice.)
- See also Pelvic floor
- KinkKink & BDSM
- A broad term for consensual sexual interests or practices outside what someone considers conventional, such as BDSM, roleplay, or sensation play. What counts as kink varies a lot between people, and it rests on the same foundation as everything else: consent and conversation.
- See also BDSM, Vanilla, Consent, Negotiation
L
- Layered lightingDesign & Space
- Lighting a room from several sources at different heights (a dimmable overhead, lamps at bed height, a low accent) instead of one ceiling fixture. Layers let you change the mood by choosing which lights are on, and they give a room depth and soft shadow.
- See also Color temperature (Kelvin), Discreet design
- LibidoBody & Wellness
- A person's overall level of sexual desire, which naturally rises and falls with stress, sleep, health, hormones, and season of life. Change is normal, not a problem to fix.
- LubricantBody & Wellness
- A product that reduces friction and increases comfort. Type matters: it determines compatibility with toy materials and condoms. Water-based is the versatile default.
- See also Water-based lubricant, Silicone lubricant, Body-safe
M
- Mattress protectorMaterials & Safety
- A fitted cover that goes under the sheet to shield the mattress from spills and fluids. Most modern ones have a soft fabric top over a thin waterproof backing, so they're quiet rather than crinkly. Look for one that's machine washable and fits your mattress depth.
- See also Body-safe
N
- NegotiationConsent & Communication
- The conversation before a scene where partners agree on what's on and off the table, the signals they'll use, and how they'll check in. Far from killing spontaneity, it's what makes it safe.
- See also Scene, Consent, Boundaries
- Non-porousMaterials & Safety
- A material with no microscopic pores to trap bacteria, so it can be fully cleaned and sanitized. The defining trait of a body-safe toy.
- See also Porous, Body-safe
P
- Pelvic floorBody & Wellness
- The group of muscles that support the pelvic organs. Their tone and flexibility influence sensation, control, and comfort. (General education, not medical advice.)
- See also Kegels
- PhthalatesMaterials & Safety
- Chemical softeners once common in inexpensive toys and now widely avoided for safety reasons. Reputable body-safe products are labeled phthalate-free.
- See also Body-safe
- PorousMaterials & Safety
- A material with tiny pores that can harbor bacteria and can't be fully sanitized. Best avoided for intimate use, or paired with a condom and replaced regularly.
- See also Non-porous, Body-safe
- Positioning furnitureToys & Technology
- Firm, shaped cushions (wedges, ramps, and chaises) that support comfortable angles and reduce strain. Firmness matters far more than size; soft foam does nothing.
- See also Body-safe
R
- RACK (Risk-Aware Consensual Kink)Kink & BDSM
- A framework that emphasizes making informed, consensual choices about risk, acknowledging that no activity is entirely without it.
- See also SSC (Safe, Sane, Consensual), Consent
- RestraintKink & BDSM
- Anything used to gently limit movement: cuffs, ties, or an under-bed system. For beginners, comfort and an easy release matter more than anything dramatic.
- See also Bondage
S
- SafewordConsent & Communication
- A pre-agreed word that instantly pauses everything, no explanation needed. Many use the traffic-light system: green (keep going), yellow (ease up), red (stop), agreed on before you begin and honored the moment it's used.
- See also Consent, Aftercare, Scene
- SceneKink & BDSM
- A defined period of play with agreed boundaries, signals, and roles, with a beginning, an end, and aftercare to close it out.
- See also Negotiation, Aftercare, Safeword
- Sensate focusBody & Wellness
- A structured touch practice developed by the researchers Masters and Johnson and still widely used by sex therapists. Partners take turns giving and receiving unhurried touch in stages, with sex taken off the table at first, so attention rests on sensation instead of performance.
- See also Arousal, Consent
- Sensation playKink & BDSM
- Exploring different physical sensations (temperature, texture, light touch), often heightened by removing sight with a blindfold.
- See also Impact play
- Sex machineToys & Technology
- A powered device delivering adjustable, hands-free motion. Valued for consistent, customizable intensity; the attributes that matter most are a wide power range and quiet operation.
- SiliconeMaterials & Safety
- A premium, non-porous, body-safe material: durable, easy to clean, and the default recommendation. Pair it with water-based lubricant, never silicone lubricant.
- See also Body-safe, Silicone lubricant, Non-porous
- Silicone lubricantBody & Wellness
- A long-lasting, ultra-slick lubricant that's great for water play because it doesn't wash away, but it must not be used with silicone toys, whose surface it can degrade.
- See also Lubricant, Silicone
- Soft limitConsent & Communication
- Something a person is hesitant about but might be open to under the right conditions, with trust, or another time. Approach softly and without pressure.
- See also Hard limit, Boundaries
- SSC (Safe, Sane, Consensual)Kink & BDSM
- A foundational framework for approaching kink responsibly: activities should be as safe as reasonable, entered with a clear head, and fully consensual.
- See also RACK (Risk-Aware Consensual Kink), Consent
- SubmissiveKink & BDSM
- The partner who yields control in a scene, by mutual agreement. Far from passive, it's an active, empowered choice, and the submissive's limits set the terms.
- See also Dominant, Switch, Scene
- SubspaceKink & BDSM
- A floaty, altered headspace a submissive may enter during intense play. It makes attentive, unhurried aftercare especially important.
- See also Aftercare, Scene
- SwitchKink & BDSM
- Someone who enjoys both dominant and submissive roles at different times or with different partners.
- See also Dominant, Submissive
T
V
W
- WandToys & Technology
- A larger massager with a broad, powerful head, prized for its strong, rumbly output. A long-standing favorite for its intensity and versatility.
- See also Vibrator, Rumbly
- Water-based lubricantBody & Wellness
- The most versatile lubricant: safe with every toy material and all condoms, and easy to clean up. It absorbs over time, so it needs reapplying. The right first bottle for almost everyone.
- See also Lubricant, Silicone lubricant
- WedgeToys & Technology
- A firm, triangular foam cushion used to raise the hips or support the back at an angle. It holds its shape far better than a stack of pillows, and many come with washable covers that pass for an ordinary bolster.
- See also Positioning furniture, Dual-purpose furniture
Y
- Yes / No / Maybe listConsent & Communication
- A checklist each partner fills out privately (marking ideas yes, no, or maybe), then compares to surface shared interests without pressure. Braise offers one as a private, nothing-stored tool.
- See also Boundaries, Consent