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noun
1.
a unit of language, consisting of one or more spoken sounds or their written representation, that functions as a principal carrier of meaning. Words are composed of one or more morphemes and are either the smallest units susceptible of independent use or consist of two or three such units combined under certain linking conditions, as with the loss of primary accent that distinguishes black·bird· from black· bird·. Words are usually separated by spaces in writing, and are distinguished phonologically, as by accent, in many languages.
2.
3.
words.
a.
speech or talk: to express one's emotion in words; Words mean little when action is called for.
b.
the text or lyrics of a song as distinguished from the music.
c.
contentious or angry speech; a quarrel: We had words and she walked out on me.
4.
a short talk or conversation: Marston, I'd like a word with you.
5.
an expression or utterance: a word of warning.
6.
warrant, assurance, or promise: I give you my word I'll be there.
7.
news; tidings; information: We received word of his death.
8.
a verbal signal, as a password, watchword, or countersign.
9.
an authoritative utterance, or command: His word was law.
10.
Also called machine word. Computers. a string of bits, characters, or bytes treated as a single entity by a computer, particularly for numeric purposes.
11.
( initial capital letter ) . Also called the Word, the Word of God.
a.
the Scriptures; the Bible.
b.
the Logos.
c.
the message of the gospel of Christ.
12.
a proverb or motto.
verb (used with object)
13.
to express in words; select words to express; phrase: to word a contract with great care.
00:10
Word
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is kibitz. Does it mean:
| to spend time idly; loaf. |
| chat, to converse |
14.
at a word, in immediate response to an order or request; in an instant: At a word they came to take the situation in hand.
15.
be as good as one's word, to hold to one's promises.
16.
eat one's words, to retract one's statement, especially with humility: They predicted his failure, but he made them eat their words.
17.
have a word, to talk briefly: Tell your aunt that I would like to have a word with her.
18.
have no words for, to be unable to describe: She had no words for the sights she had witnessed.
19.
in a word, in summary; in short: In a word, there was no comparison. Also, in one word.
20.
in so many words, in unequivocal terms; explicitly: She told them in so many words to get out.
21.
keep one's word, to fulfill one's promise: I said I'd meet the deadline, and I kept my word.
22.
man of his word/woman of her word, a person who can be trusted to keep a promise; a reliable person.
23.
(upon) my word!, (used as an exclamation of surprise or astonishment.)
24.
of few words, laconic; taciturn: a woman of few words but of profound thoughts.
25.
of many words, talkative; loquacious; wordy: a person of many words but of little wit.
26.
put in a good word for, to speak favorably of; commend: He put in a good word for her with the boss. Also, put in a word for.
27.
take one at one's word, to take a statement to be literal and true.
28.
take the words out of one's mouth, to say exactly what another person was about to say.
29.
weigh one's words, to choose one's words carefully in speaking or writing: It was an important message, and he was weighing his words.
Origin:
before 900; Middle English, Old English; cognate with Dutch woord, German Wort, Old Norse orth, Gothic waurd; akin to OPruss wirds, Latin verbum ‘word’, Lithuanian var̃das ‘name’
before 900; Middle English, Old English; cognate with Dutch woord, German Wort, Old Norse orth, Gothic waurd; akin to OPruss wirds, Latin verbum ‘word’, Lithuanian var̃das ‘name’
Related forms
in·ter·word, adjective
out·word, verb (used with object)
well-word·ed, adjective
Synonyms
4. statement, declaration. 5. pledge. 6. message, report, account. 7. catchword, shibboleth.
4. statement, declaration. 5. pledge. 6. message, report, account. 7. catchword, shibboleth.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
term of art
Also called word of art.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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|
Link To word
Collins
World English Dictionary
word (wɜːd) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | one of the units of speech or writing that native speakers of a language usually regard as the smallest isolable meaningful element of the language, although linguists would analyse these further into morphemesRelated: lexical, verbal |
| 2. | an instance of vocal intercourse; chat, talk, or discussion: to have a word with someone |
| 3. | an utterance or expression, esp a brief one: a word of greeting |
| 4. | news or information: he sent word that he would be late |
| 5. | a verbal signal for action; command: when I give the word, fire! |
| 6. | an undertaking or promise: I give you my word; he kept his word |
| 7. | an autocratic decree or utterance; order: his word must be obeyed |
| 8. | a watchword or slogan, as of a political party: the word now is ``freedom'' |
| 9. | computing a set of bits used to store, transmit, or operate upon an item of information in a computer, such as a program instruction |
| 10. | as good as one's word doing what one has undertaken or promised to do |
| 11. | at a word at once |
| 12. | by word of mouth orally rather than by written means |
| 13. | in a word briefly or in short |
| 14. | my word! |
| a. an exclamation of surprise, annoyance, etc | |
| b. (Austral) an exclamation of agreement | |
| 15. | of one's word given to or noted for keeping one's promises: I am a man of my word |
| 16. | put in a word for, put in a good word for to make favourable mention of (someone); recommend |
| 17. | take someone at his word, take someone at her word to assume that someone means, or will do, what he or she says: when he told her to go, she took him at his word and left |
| 18. | take someone's word for it to accept or believe what someone says |
| 19. | the last word |
| a. the closing remark of a conversation or argument, esp a remark that supposedly settles an issue | |
| b. the latest or most fashionable design, make, or model: the last word in bikinis | |
| c. the finest example (of some quality, condition, etc): the last word in luxury | |
| 20. | the word the proper or most fitting expression: cold is not the word for it, it's freezing! |
| 21. | upon my word! |
| a. archaic on my honour | |
| b. an exclamation of surprise, annoyance, etc | |
| 22. | word for word |
| a. (of a report, transcription, etc) using exactly the same words as those employed in the situation being reported; verbatim | |
| b. translated by substituting each word in the new text for each corresponding word in the original rather than by general sense | |
| 23. | word of honour a promise; oath |
| 24. | (modifier) of, relating to, or consisting of words: a word list |
| —vb (often foll by up) | |
| 25. | (tr) to state in words, usually specially selected ones; phrase |
| 26. | informal (Austral) to inform or advise (a person) |
| Related: lexical, verbal | |
| [Old English word; related to Old High German wort, Old Norse orth, Gothic waurd, Latin verbum, Sanskrit vratá command] | |
| Word (wɜːd) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | Christianity the 2nd person of the Trinity |
| 2. | Often called: the Word of God Scripture, the Bible, or the Gospels as embodying or representing divine revelation |
| [translation of Greek logos, as in John 1:1] | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
word
O.E. word "speech, talk, utterance, word," from P.Gmc. *wurdan (cf. O.S., O.Fris. word, Du. woord, O.H.G., Ger. wort, O.N. orð, Goth. waurd), from PIE *were- "speak, say" (see verb). The meaning "promise" was in O.E., as was the theological sense. In the plural, the meaning
"verbal altercation" (as in to have words with someone) dates from 1462. Wordy is O.E. wordig "verbose." Wording "choice of words" apparently was coined by Milton (in "Eikonoklastes," 1649). Word processor first recorded 1970. A word to the wise is from L. phrase verbum sapienti satis est "a word to the wise is enough." Word of mouth is recorded from c.1553.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Slang Dictionary
Word definition
|
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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FOLDOC
word definition
storageA fundamental unit of storage in a computer. The size of a word in a particular computer architecture is one of its chief distinguishing characteristics.
The size of a word is usually the same as the width of the computer's data bus so it is possible to read or write a word in a single operation. An instruction is usually one or more words long and a word can be used to hold a whole number of characters. These days, this nearly always means a whole number of bytes (eight bits), most often 32 or 64 bits. In the past when six bit character sets were used, a word might be a multiple of six bits, e.g. 24 bits (four characters) in the ICL 1900 series.
(1994-11-11)
American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases
word
In addition to the idioms beginning with work, also see all in a day's work; all work and no play; at work; busy work; dirty work; get down to (work); good works; gum up (the works); have one's work cut out; in the works; make short work of; many hands make light work; out of work; shoot the works; the works; turn (work) out all right.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Example sentences
Today no salad-time discussion is complete without a word on the state of the season's tomatoes.
The anthology's editorial team endorsed the community-preferred word and made that clear in the preface.
Meditate for a moment on the word dude, as it was used long before it became a one-word anthem for the slacker generation.
Every time you run across a word you don't know, you make a note of it.
Idioms & Phrases
Nearby Words
Synonyms
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