Yahoo Web Search

Search results

1. Dictionary

   Lan·guage

   /ˈlaNGɡwij/

   

   noun

   • 1. the principal method of human communication, consisting of words used in a structured and conventional way and conveyed by speech, writing, or gesture: "a study of the way children learn language"
   • ▪ a nonverbal method of expression or communication: "a language of gesture and facial expression" Similar speechwritingcommunicationverbal expressionverbalizationvocalizationconversationspeakingtalkingwordsutterancevocabularyarticulationenunciationpronunciationtalkdiscourseinterchangeintercourseinteractionarchaic:converse
   • 2. a system of communication used by a particular country or community: "the book was translated into twenty-five languages" Similar tonguespeechmother tonguenative tonguedialectvernacularbhashainformal:lingo
   • ▪ a system of symbols and rules for writing programs or algorithms: "a new programming language"
   • 3. the style of a piece of writing or speech: "he explained the procedure in simple, everyday language"
   • ▪ the phraseology and vocabulary of a particular profession, domain, or group: "legal language" Similar wordingdictionphrasingphraseologystylevocabularyterminologyexpressionsturns of phraseparlancemanner of writing/speakingway of talkingform/mode of expressionusageslocutionsidiolectchoice of wordsrhetoricoratoryspeechdialectvernacularregionalismsprovincialismslocalismspatoislingua francaslangidiomscolloquialismsjargonargotbarbarismsvulgarismscantnewspeakpidgin EnglishCreoleinformal:lingolegalesejournalesetechnospeakgeekspeakgobbledygook
   • ▪ coarse or offensive language.

   Word Origin Middle English: from Old French langage, based on Latin lingua ‘tongue’.

   Scrabble Points: 10

   • L

     1

   • A

     1

   • N

     1

   • G

     2

   • U

     1

   • A

     1

   • G

     2

   • E

     1

   Powered by Oxford Languages

   More Definitions, Word Origin & ScrabbleShow less