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gesture definition

ges·ture (jes′c̸hər)

noun

  1. a movement, or movements collectively, of the body, or of part of the body, to express or emphasize ideas, emotions, etc.
  2. anything said or done to convey a state of mind, intention, etc.; often, something said or done merely for effect or as a formality a gesture of sympathy

Etymology: ME < ML gestura, mode of action < L gestus, pp. of gerere, to bear, carry

intransitive verb gestured -·tured, gesturing -·tur·ing

to make or use a gesture or gestures

transitive verb

to express with a gesture or gestures

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

gesture Synonyms

gesture

n.

  1. A deliberately significant motion

    gesticulation, indication, signal, movement; see sign 1.

  2. A formality or pretense

    display, pose, posture; see appearance 2.


gesture

v.

make a sign, motion, signal, gesticulate, pantomime, act out, use sign language, sign, use one's hands, indicate, saw the air*; see also signal.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

gesture Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • goodwill: However as a gesture of goodwill you might want to negotiate with the customer rather than losing them.

Converse of object

  • imitate: The studies often involve giving them a task, or asking them to imitate a gesture.

Adjective modifier

  • token: Soldiers ejected over Iraq abuses Dare I say token gesture to make up for below?

Modifies a noun

  • recognition: Uses include tracking a person's eyes and mouth, gesture recognition.

Noun used with modifier

  • parting: In a parting gesture, the Web publisher you fired replaced photos of board members with sheep.
gesture usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

gesture quotes

For the theatre one needs long arms; it is better to have them too long than too short. An artiste with short arms can never, never make a fine gesture.

-Bernard

We were a self-centred army without parade or gesture, devoted to freedom, the second of man's creeds, a purpose so ravenous that it devoured all our strength, a hope so transcendent that ourearlier ambitions faded in its glare.

-Arabia

gesture quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"gesture." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/gesture>

APA Style

gesture. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/gesture

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