lingual
Americanadjective
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of or relating to the tongue or some tonguelike part.
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pertaining to languages.
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Phonetics. articulated with the aid of the tongue, especially the tip of the tongue, as d, n, s, or r.
noun
adjective
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anatomy of or relating to the tongue or a part or structure resembling a tongue
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rare of or relating to language or languages
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( in combination )
polylingual
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articulated with the tongue
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of lingual
1350–1400; Middle English: tongue-shaped surgical instrument < Medieval Latin linguālis. See lingua, -al 1
Explanation
Something that's lingual has something to do with tongues — it's near a tongue, looks like a tongue, or is caused by a tongue. The lingual side of your teeth is the side closest to your tongue. If you fall and bite your tongue, you suffer a lingual injury, and when you brush your tongue after finishing with your teeth, you could call it a lingual cleaning. Because speech sounds are formed with the help of the tongue, things related to language are also lingual. A skilled lingual learner is good at picking up languages, for example. The Latin root, lingua, unsurprisingly, means "tongue."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Price: $25 Amazon Love Lingual Fellow Carter Everywhere Mug When in doubt, it's hard to go wrong with a practical gift like the minimalist Carter Everywhere Mug.
From The Verge • Jan. 27, 2022
Love Lingual also makes card packs meant for friends, meaning you don't have to be in a romantic relationship to join in on the conversation.
From The Verge • Jan. 27, 2022
Lingual lipase then begins breaking down triglycerides into free fatty acids, and mono- and diglycerides.
From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013
After a Lingual or a Palatal, not quiescent, the e loses its sound, and only qualifies that of the preceding consonant; hence, 2.
From Elements of Gaelic Grammar by Stewart, Alexander
After a Lingual or a Palatal, not quiescent, the e loses its sound, and only qualifies that of the preceding consonant; hence, 4.
From Elements of Gaelic Grammar by Stewart, Alexander
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
