Third base, in the common baseball metaphor for sexual activity, generally refers to intimate touching or stimulation below the waist. This typically includes manual stimulation of the genitals, such as fingering, and in some contexts, it may also refer to oral sex (fellatio or cunnilingus)
. Definitions vary somewhat depending on the source and cultural context, but the core idea is that third base involves more serious sexual contact beyond just touching over clothes or kissing. To summarize:
- Third base usually means touching or stimulating the genitals manually (fingering or hand stimulation) or orally (oral sex)
- It is considered a step closer to full sexual intercourse, which is referred to as "home run" or "scoring"
- The metaphor is playful and varies in interpretation, but third base consistently involves intimate contact below the waist
Consent and mutual comfort are essential at every stage of intimacy, regardless of these metaphorical "bases"
