noun
- the sum total of local characteristics of speech
- Rare the sum total of an individual's characteristics of speech; idiolect
- popularly any form of speech considered as deviating from a real or imaginary standard speech
- Linguis.
- 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
- any language as a member of a group or family of languages: English is a West Germanic dialect
Origin:
L dialectus < Gr dialektos, discourse, discussion, dialect < dialegesthai, to discourse, talk < dia, between (see dia-) + legein, to choose, talk (see logic)
adjective
of or in a dialect: dialect ballads