gargle
[ gahr-guh l ]
/ ˈgɑr gəl /
verb (used without object), gar·gled, gar·gling.
to wash or rinse the throat or mouth with a liquid held in the throat and kept in motion by a stream of air from the lungs.
verb (used with object), gar·gled, gar·gling.
to gargle (the throat or mouth).
to utter with a gargling sound.
noun
any liquid used for gargling.
a gargling sound.
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Origin of gargle
1520–30; < Middle French gargouiller to gargle, rattle the throat, derivative of gargouille throat; perhaps imitative
OTHER WORDS FROM gargle
gar·gler, nounWords nearby gargle
garg., garganey, gargantua, gargantuan, garget, gargle, gargoyle, gargoylism, gari, garibaldi, garibaldi, giuseppe
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for gargles
British Dictionary definitions for gargles
gargle
/ (ˈɡɑːɡəl) /
verb
to rinse (the mouth and throat) with a liquid, esp a medicinal fluid by slowly breathing out through the liquid
to utter (words, sounds, etc) with the throaty bubbling noise of gargling
noun
the liquid used for gargling
the sound produced by gargling
British informal an alcoholic drinkwhat was her favourite gargle?
Derived forms of gargle
gargler, nounWord Origin for gargle
C16: from Old French gargouiller to gargle, make a gurgling sound, from gargouille throat, perhaps of imitative origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Medical definitions for gargles
gargle
[ gär′gəl ]
v.
To force exhaled air through a liquid held in the back of the mouth, with the head tilted back, in order to cleanse or medicate the mouth or throat.
n.
A medicated fluid used for gargling.throatwash
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
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