10 results for: gesture

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

ges·ture

Audio Help [jes-cher] Pronunciation Key noun, verb, -tured, -tur·ing.

–noun

1.	a movement or position of the hand, arm, body, head, or face that is expressive of an idea, opinion, emotion, etc.: the gestures of an orator; a threatening gesture.

2.	the use of such movements to express thought, emotion, etc.

3.	any action, courtesy, communication, etc., intended for effect or as a formality; considered expression; demonstration: a gesture of friendship.

–verb (used without object)

4.	to make or use a gesture or gestures.

–verb (used with object)

5.	to express by a gesture or gestures.

[Origin: 1375–1425; late ME < ML gestūra mode of action, manner, bearing, equiv. to L gest(us) ptp. of gerere to bear, carry on, perform + ūra -ure

]

—Related forms

ges·tur·al, adjective

ges·tur·er, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
gesture

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

ges·ture Audio Help (jěs'chər) Pronunciation Key
n.

A motion of the limbs or body made to express or help express thought or to emphasize speech.
The act of moving the limbs or body as an expression of thought or emphasis.
An act or a remark made as a formality or as a sign of intention or attitude: sent flowers as a gesture of sympathy.

v.   ges·tured, ges·tur·ing, ges·tures

v.   intr.
To make gestures.

v.   tr.
To show, express, or direct by gestures.

[Middle English, from Medieval Latin gestūra, bearing, from Latin gestus, past participle of gerere, to behave.]

ges'tur·al adj., ges'tur·al·ly adv., ges'tur·er n.

Synonyms: These nouns denote an expressive, meaningful bodily motion: a gesture of approval; frantic gesticulations to get help; made a sign for silence; gave the signal to advance.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
gesture

c.1410, "manner of carrying the body," from M.L. gestura "bearing, behavior," from L. gestus "gesture, carriage, posture" (see gest). Restricted sense of "a movement of the body or a part of it" is from 1551; fig. sense of "action undertaken in good will to express feeling" is from 1916.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

gesture
noun
1.	motion of hands or body to emphasize or help to express a thought or feeling
2.	the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals
3.	something done as an indication of intention; "a political gesture"; "a gesture of defiance"
verb
1.	show, express or direct through movement; "He gestured his desire to leave" [syn: gesticulate]

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
gesture [ˈdʒestʃə] noun

a movement of the head, hand etc to express an idea etc
Example: The speaker emphasized his words with violent gestures.

Arabic:	حَرَكَه، إيماءه
Chinese (Simplified):	姿势
Chinese (Traditional):	姿勢，手勢
Czech:	gesto
Danish:	gestus; fagter
Dutch:	gebaar
Estonian:	žest
Finnish:	ele
French:	geste
German:	die Gebärde
Greek:	χειρονομία
Hungarian:	gesztus
Icelandic:	látbragð; handahreyfingar
Indonesian:	gerak-gerik
Italian:	gesto

Japanese:	身ぶり
Korean:	몸짓
Latvian:	žests
Lithuanian:	gestas, mostas
Norwegian:	håndbevegelse, gestus
Polish:	gest
Portuguese (Brazil):	gesto
Portuguese (Portugal):	gesto
Romanian:	gest
Russian:	жест
Slovak:	gesto
Slovenian:	kretnja
Spanish:	gesto
Swedish:	gest, åtbörd
Turkish:	el kol hareketleri

gesture [ˈdʒestʃə] verb

to make a gesture or gestures
Example: He gestured to her to keep quiet.

Arabic:	يومئُ
Chinese (Simplified):	做手势
Chinese (Traditional):	做手勢
Czech:	dát znamení, ukázat
Danish:	gøre tegn
Dutch:	gebaren
Estonian:	žestikuleerima
Finnish:	viittoa
French:	faire signe à
German:	Gebärden machen
Greek:	χειρονομώ
Hungarian:	gesztikulál, int
Icelandic:	tjá e-ð með látbragði
Indonesian:	membuat isyarat
Italian:	fare segno*

Japanese:	身ぶりをする
Korean:	몸짓을 하다
Latvian:	žestikulēt
Lithuanian:	mostelėti, duoti ženklą
Norwegian:	bruke håndbevegelser, gestikulere
Polish:	dać znak
Portuguese (Brazil):	fazer sinal
Portuguese (Portugal):	fazer sinal
Romanian:	a gesticula, a face semn
Russian:	жестикулировать
Slovak:	dať znamenie
Slovenian:	(na)migniti
Spanish:	hacer un gesto, gestos, hacer una señal, señales
Swedish:	gestikulera, göra åtbörder
Turkish:	el kol hareketleri yapmak

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Gesture

Ges"tic\, a. [See Gest a deed, Gesture.]

1. Pertaining to deeds or feats of arms; legendary.

And the gay grandsire, skilled in gestic lore. --Goldsmith.

2. Relating to bodily motion; consisting of gestures; -- said especially with reference to dancing.

Carried away by the enthusiasm of the gestic art. --Sir W. Scott.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Gesture

Ges"ture\, n. [LL. gestura mode of action, fr. L. gerere, gestum, to bear, behave, perform, act. See Gest a deed.]

1. Manner of carrying the body; position of the body or limbs; posture. [Obs.]

Accubation, or lying down at meals, was a gesture used by many nations. --Sir T. Browne.

2. A motion of the body or limbs expressive of sentiment or passion; any action or posture intended to express an idea or a passion, or to enforce or emphasize an argument, assertion, or opinion.

Humble and reverent gestures. --Hooker.

Grace was in all her steps, heaven in her eye, In every gesture dignity and love. --Milton.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Gesture

Ges"ture\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Gestured; p. pr. & vb. n. Gesturing.] To accompany or illustrate with gesture or action; to gesticulate.

It is not orderly read, nor gestured as beseemeth. --Hooker.

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