A simple guide to attraction and relevant terminology:

PLATONIC ATTRACTION: a desire for a platonic relationship or friendship with a specific individual. this may or may not include other types of attraction, such as aesthetic, sensual, or sexual.

ROMANTIC ATTRACTION: a desire for a romantic relationship (however you define it) with a specific individual.

SEXUAL ATTRACTION: a desire for sexual contact (however you define it) with a specific individual.

AESTHETIC ATTRACTION: an appreciation for someone's physical appearance and an intense desire to look at them.

TERTIARY ATTRACTION: this term is used by a-spec individuals to refer to attractions other than romantic and sexual, as these two are typically and incorrectly regarded as a binary in dominant culture.

SENSUAL ATTRACTION: a desire for tactile or physical intimacy, i.e. cuddling, hand holding, etc.

ALTEROUS ATTRACTION: attractions that are not wholly romantic or platonic. it involves having a deep, emotional closeness and connection with someone which dominant culture would consider to be more than typical for friendships, but not the same as romantic relationships.

QUEERPLATONIC ATTRACTION: this is similar to alterous attraction and describes the desire to have a connection with someone that does not resemble or feel like a typical platonic friendship, but also would not be defined as entirely romantic.

CRUSH: usually considered a precursor to a romantic relationship; a strong desire to be romantically involved with someone that may or may not ever be explicitly addressed or acted upon.

SQUISH: a desire to have a strong platonic relationship with someone, usually with a deep emotional connection. may or may not ever be explicitly addressed or acted upon.

PLUSH: a desire to have a queerplatonic relationship with someone. may or may not ever be explicitly addressed or acted upon.

MESH: a desire to have a relationship based on an emotional connection with someone based on attraction that is neither romantic nor platonic. may or may not ever be explicitly addressed or acted upon.