noun

1. the sum total of local characteristics of speech
2. Rare the sum total of an individual's characteristics of speech; idiolect
3. popularly any form of speech considered as deviating from a real or imaginary standard speech
4. Linguis.
   1. a form or variety of a spoken language, including the standard form, peculiar to a region, community, social group, occupational group, etc.: in this sense, dialects are regarded as being, to some degree, mutually intelligible while languages are not mutually intelligible
   2. any language as a member of a group or family of languages English is a West Germanic dialect

Etymology: L dialectus < Gr dialektos, discourse, discussion, dialect < dialegesthai, to discourse, talk < dia, between (see dia-) + legein, to choose, talk (see logic)

adjective