word
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 blackbird from black bird. Words are usually separated by spaces in writing, and are distinguished phonologically, as by accent, in many languages.
2. 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 analyze these further into morphemes.
Related adjectives: lexical, verbal.
3. a speech sound or series of speech sounds that symbolizes and communicates a meaning usually without being divisible into smaller units capable of independent use.
4. the entire set of linguistic forms produced by combining a single base with various inflectional elements without change in the part of speech elements.
5. a written or printed character or combination of characters representing a spoken word:
the number of words to a line.
6. any segment of written or printed discourse ordinarily appearing between spaces or between a space and a punctuation mark.
7. the act of speaking or of making verbal communication.
8. news; tidings; information:
We received word of his death // sent word that he would be late.
9. a short talk or conversation:
Marston, I'd like a word with you.
10. an instance of vocal intercourse; chat, talk, or discussion:
to have a word with someone.
11. something that is said.
12. an utterance or expression, esp a brief one:
a word of greeting. // a word of warning.
13. a brief remark or conversation:
would like to have a word with you.
14. warrant, assurance, declaration, undertaking or promise:
I give you my word I'll be there; kept her word. // I give you my word; he kept his word.
15. a verbal signal for action; an authoritative (or autocratic) decree or utterance; command; order:
when I give the word, fire! // don't move till I give the word. // His word was law. // his word must be obeyed.
16. a proverb, saying, or motto.
17. a verbal sign or signal, as a password, watchword, or countersign.
18. a watchword or slogan, as of a political party:
the word now is "freedom".
19. rumor.
20. a quarrelsome utterance or conversation —usually used in plural:
they had words and parted.
21. —sometimes used with the first letter of a real or pretended taboo word prefixed as an often humorous euphemism:
the first man to utter the f word on British TV. —Time. // we were not afraid to use the d word and talk about death. —Erma Bombeck.
of God (initial capital letter) (Also called "the Word," "the Word of God"):
1. the Scriptures; the Bible.
2. (the) Logos.
3. the message of the gospel of Christ.
4. Christianity the 2nd person of the Trinity.
5. Scripture, the Bible, or the Gospels as embodying or representing divine revelation. Often called: the Word of God. [translation of Greek logos, as in John 1:1.]
6. the expressed or manifested mind and will of God.
7. gospel.
of computers:
1. Also called "machine word," a string of bits, characters, or bytes treated as a single entity by a computer, particularly for numeric purposes.
2. a set of bits used to store, transmit, or operate upon an item of information in a computer, such as a program instruction.
3. a number of bytes processed as a unit and conveying a quantum of information in communication and computer work.
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’. Dictionary 2: Old English word; related to Old High German wort, Old Norse orth, Gothic waurd, Latin verbum, Sanskrit vratá command. —Dictionary.com. //
First Known Use: Noun: before the 12th century. Verb: 13th century. History and Etymology: Noun: Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German wort word, Latin verbum, Greek eirein to say, speak, Hittite weriya- to call, name. —Merriam-Webster.
Sources: 1, 2.
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 blackbird from black bird. Words are usually separated by spaces in writing, and are distinguished phonologically, as by accent, in many languages.
2. 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 analyze these further into morphemes.
Related adjectives: lexical, verbal.
3. a speech sound or series of speech sounds that symbolizes and communicates a meaning usually without being divisible into smaller units capable of independent use.
4. the entire set of linguistic forms produced by combining a single base with various inflectional elements without change in the part of speech elements.
5. a written or printed character or combination of characters representing a spoken word:
the number of words to a line.
6. any segment of written or printed discourse ordinarily appearing between spaces or between a space and a punctuation mark.
7. the act of speaking or of making verbal communication.
8. news; tidings; information:
We received word of his death // sent word that he would be late.
9. a short talk or conversation:
Marston, I'd like a word with you.
10. an instance of vocal intercourse; chat, talk, or discussion:
to have a word with someone.
11. something that is said.
12. an utterance or expression, esp a brief one:
a word of greeting. // a word of warning.
13. a brief remark or conversation:
would like to have a word with you.
14. warrant, assurance, declaration, undertaking or promise:
I give you my word I'll be there; kept her word. // I give you my word; he kept his word.
15. a verbal signal for action; an authoritative (or autocratic) decree or utterance; command; order:
when I give the word, fire! // don't move till I give the word. // His word was law. // his word must be obeyed.
16. a proverb, saying, or motto.
17. a verbal sign or signal, as a password, watchword, or countersign.
18. a watchword or slogan, as of a political party:
the word now is "freedom".
19. rumor.
20. a quarrelsome utterance or conversation —usually used in plural:
they had words and parted.
21. —sometimes used with the first letter of a real or pretended taboo word prefixed as an often humorous euphemism:
the first man to utter the f word on British TV. —Time. // we were not afraid to use the d word and talk about death. —Erma Bombeck.
of God (initial capital letter) (Also called "the Word," "the Word of God"):
1. the Scriptures; the Bible.
2. (the) Logos.
3. the message of the gospel of Christ.
4. Christianity the 2nd person of the Trinity.
5. Scripture, the Bible, or the Gospels as embodying or representing divine revelation. Often called: the Word of God. [translation of Greek logos, as in John 1:1.]
6. the expressed or manifested mind and will of God.
7. gospel.
of computers:
1. Also called "machine word," a string of bits, characters, or bytes treated as a single entity by a computer, particularly for numeric purposes.
2. a set of bits used to store, transmit, or operate upon an item of information in a computer, such as a program instruction.
3. a number of bytes processed as a unit and conveying a quantum of information in communication and computer work.
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’. Dictionary 2: Old English word; related to Old High German wort, Old Norse orth, Gothic waurd, Latin verbum, Sanskrit vratá command. —Dictionary.com. //
First Known Use: Noun: before the 12th century. Verb: 13th century. History and Etymology: Noun: Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German wort word, Latin verbum, Greek eirein to say, speak, Hittite weriya- to call, name. —Merriam-Webster.
Sources: 1, 2.