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 blackbird from black bird. Words are usually separated by spaces in writing, and are distinguished phonologically, as by accent, in many languages.
(used in combination with the first letter of an offensive or unmentionable word, the first letter being lowercase or uppercase, with or without a following hyphen): My mom married at 20, and she mentions the m-word every time I meet someone she thinks is eligible.See also f-word, n-word.
words,
speech or talk: to express one's emotion in words;Words mean little when action is called for.
the text or lyrics of a song as distinguished from the music.
contentious or angry speech; a quarrel: We had words and she walked out on me.
a short talk or conversation: Marston, I'd like a word with you.
an expression or utterance: a word of warning.
warrant, assurance, or promise: I give you my word I'll be there.
news; tidings; information: We received word of his death.
a verbal signal, as a password, watchword, or countersign.
an authoritative utterance, or command: His word was law.
Also called machine word.Computers. a string of bits, characters, or bytes treated as a single entity by a computer, particularly for numeric purposes.
(initial capital letter) Also called the Word,the Word of God.
the Scriptures; the Bible.
the Logos.
the message of the gospel of Christ.
a proverb or motto.
verb (used with object)
to express in words; select words to express; phrase: to word a contract with great care.
Idioms
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.
be as good as one's word, to hold to one's promises.
eat one's words, to retract one's statement, especially with humility: They predicted his failure, but he made them eat their words.
have a word, to talk briefly: Tell your aunt that I would like to have a word with her.
have no words for, to be unable to describe: She had no words for the sights she had witnessed.
in a word, in summary; in short: In a word, there was no comparison.Also in one word.
in so many words, in unequivocal terms; explicitly: She told them in so many words to get out.
keep one's word, to fulfill one's promise: I said I'd meet the deadline, and I kept my word.
man of his word/woman of her word, a person who can be trusted to keep a promise; a reliable person.
(upon) my word!(used as an exclamation of surprise or astonishment.)
of few words, laconic; taciturn: a woman of few words but of profound thoughts.
of many words, talkative; loquacious; wordy: a person of many words but of little wit.
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.
take one at one's word, to take a statement to be literal and true.
take the words out of one's mouth, to say exactly what another person was about to say.
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 of word
before 900;Middle English,Old English; cognate with Dutchwoord,GermanWort,Old Norseorth,Gothicwaurd; akin to OPruss wirds,Latinverbum ‘word’, Lithuanianvar̃das ‘name’
Related formsin·ter·word, adjectiveout·word, verb (used with object)well-word·ed, adjective
a word or phrase that has a specific or precise meaning within a given discipline or field and might have a different meaning in common usage: Set is a term of art used by mathematicians, and burden of proof is a term of art used by lawyers.
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 adjective: lexical, verbal
an instance of vocal intercourse; chat, talk, or discussionto have a word with someone
an utterance or expression, esp a brief onea word of greeting
news or informationhe sent word that he would be late
a verbal signal for action; commandwhen I give the word, fire!
an undertaking or promiseI give you my word; he kept his word
an autocratic decree or utterance; orderhis word must be obeyed
a watchword or slogan, as of a political partythe word now is ``freedom''
computinga set of bits used to store, transmit, or operate upon an item of information in a computer, such as a program instruction
as good as one's worddoing what one has undertaken or promised to do
at a wordat once
by word of mouthorally rather than by written means
in a wordbriefly or in short
my word!
an exclamation of surprise, annoyance, etc
Australianan exclamation of agreement
of one's wordgiven to or noted for keeping one's promisesI am a man of my word
put in a word fororput in a good word forto make favourable mention of (someone); recommend
take someone at his wordortake someone at her wordto assume that someone means, or will do, what he or she sayswhen he told her to go, she took him at his word and left
take someone's word for itto accept or believe what someone says
the last word
the closing remark of a conversation or argument, esp a remark that supposedly settles an issue
the latest or most fashionable design, make, or modelthe last word in bikinis
the finest example (of some quality, condition, etc)the last word in luxury
the wordthe proper or most fitting expressioncold is not the word for it, it's freezing!
upon my word!
archaicon my honour
an exclamation of surprise, annoyance, etc
word for word
(of a report, transcription, etc) using exactly the same words as those employed in the situation being reported; verbatim
translated by substituting each word in the new text for each corresponding word in the original rather than by general sense
word of honoura promise; oath
(modifier)of, relating to, or consisting of wordsa word list
verb
(tr)to state in words, usually specially selected ones; phrase
(tr often foll by up) Australianinformalto inform or advise (a person)
Old English word "speech, talk, utterance, word," from Proto-Germanic *wurdan (cf. Old Saxon, Old Frisian word, Dutch woord, Old High German, German wort, Old Norse orð, Gothic waurd), from PIE *were- "speak, say" (see verb).
The meaning "promise" was in Old English, as was the theological sense. In the plural, the meaning "verbal altercation" (as in to have words with someone) dates from mid-15c. Word processor first recorded 1973; word processing is from 1984; word wrap is from 1977. A word to the wise is from Latin phrase verbum sapienti satis est "a word to the wise is enough." Word of mouth is recorded from 1550s.
It is dangerous to leave written that which is badly written. A chance word, upon paper, may destroy the world. Watch carefully and erase, while the power is still yours, I say to myself, for all that is put down, once it escapes, may rot its way into a thousand minds, the corn become a black smut, and all libraries, of necessity, be burned to the ground as a consequence. [William Carlos Williams, "Paterson"]
Oscars 2015: The Daily Beast’s Picks, From Scarlett Johansson to ‘Boyhood’