An overlapping abbreviation of Bondage and Discipline (BD), Dominance and Submission (DS), Sadism and Masochism (
SM).
Bondage - Tying up or restraining your consenting sexual partner. Usually the restraining is done by the dom (dominant) and the sub (submissive) is the
one restrained with handcuffs, rope, leather, scarves, rubber, cling film, chains etc. Sexually arousing for some, as the exchange of power is exciting, and the helplessness of being bound allows some
people to really let go and enjoy themselves. Also, having complete control over a willing partner is very arousing.
Discipline - Any activity in which
one person trains another person to act or behave in a specified way, often by enforcing rigid codes of conduct or by inflicting punishment - i.
e spanking - for
failure to behave in the prescribed way.
Dominance - A person in BDSM who dominates a submissive person. Usually the
one who disciplines or ties up the submissive person and/or the top (the person who ties up, punishes etc. the submissive person).
Submission - A person in BDSM who submits to a dominant person. A submissive can be a
slave and/or the bottom (the person being tied up or
whipped, etc.).
Sadism - The tendency to derive pleasure, especially sexual gratification, from inflicting
pain, suffering, or humiliation on others.
Masochism - the tendency to derive pleasure, especially sexual gratification, from
one's own
pain or humiliation.