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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 -·tured, -·tur·ing

to make or use a gesture or gestures

transitive verb

to express with a gesture or gestures

gesture Related Forms

ges′·tural adjective ges′·turer noun

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 Synonyms

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.

gesture Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • goodwill: However as a gesture of goodwill you might want to negotiate with the customer rather than losing them.
  • defiance: Oh the pleasure from such a simple gesture of defiance!
  • self-sacrifice: Campers to put his seat in gesture of self-sacrifice.
  • solidarity: I guess I signed up as a gesture of solidarity.
  • gratitude: It was a gesture of gratitude for her lifelong dedication to the Regiment.
  • reconciliation: In a gesture of reconciliation with the composer Daniel, Leila's Jewish partner, Mohammed takes the manuscript back to London.

Converse of object

  • imitate: The studies often involve giving them a task, or asking them to imitate a gesture.
  • appreciate: She has no idea who it was, but really appreciated the gesture very much and was greatly touched.

Adjective modifier

  • token: Soldiers ejected over Iraq abuses Dare I say token gesture to make up for below?
  • symbolic: Symbolic gestures, important in their time, no longer build trust.
  • futile: In every sense it was a futile gesture against the government.
  • articulatory: From this movement in turn is derived the articulatory gesture, the utterance relating to the perceived object.
  • expressive: The General spoke very fluently in French, and with many an expressive gesture.
  • magnanimous: However, in a magnanimous gesture the gnome indicated that managers were prepared to go on accepting the credit when teams do well.

Modifies a noun

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

Noun used with modifier

  • goodwill: Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said it's a goodwill gesture to Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.
  • parting: In a parting gesture, the Web publisher you fired replaced photos of board members with sheep.
  • hand: You can really truly do magic hand gestures to make your machine go.
  • one-off: As one-off gestures went our 24-hour strike was highly effective even if we couldn't publicize it in our own paper.
  • mouse: Mouse Gestures Allows you to execute many common commands by using a mouse gesture.