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tongue Definition

tongue (tuŋ)

noun

  1. the movable muscular structure attached to the floor of the mouth in most vertebrates: it is an important organ in the ingestion of food, the perception of taste, and, in humans, the articulation of speech sounds
  2. an analogous part in invertebrate animals; specif.,
    1. a radula
    2. the proboscis in certain insects, as bees
  3. an animal's tongue used as food
    1. the human tongue as the organ of speech
    2. ideas expressed by speaking; talk; speech
    3. the act or power of speaking
    4. a manner or style of speaking, with reference to tone, diction, etc. a glib tongue
    1. a language or dialect
    2. in the Bible, a nation or people speaking a distinct language: Rev. 7:9
  7. the cry of a hunting dog, etc. in sight of game: chiefly in give tongue, to start barking
  8. something resembling a tongue in shape, position, movement, or use; specif.,
    1. the flap under the laces or strap of a shoe
    2. the clapper of a bell
    3. the pin of a buckle, etc.
    4. the pole of a wagon, etc.
    5. the projecting tenon of a tongue-and-groove joint
    6. in machines, a projecting flange, rib, etc.
    7. a thin strip of flexible material, as cane, that produces a musical sound when vibrated, as in a wind instrument
    8. a narrow strip of land, ice, etc. extending into a body of water, an intrusion, etc.
    9. a narrow inlet of water
    10. a long, narrow flame
    11. the pointer of a scale, etc.

Etymology: ME tunge < OE, akin to Ger zunge < IE base *dṇĝhū-, tongue > L lingua (OL dingua)

transitive verb tongued, tongu′·ing

  1. Archaic
    1. to reproach or scold
    2. to speak or say
  2. to touch, lick, etc. with the tongue
    1. to cut a tongue (sense ) on or in
    2. to join by means of a tongue-and-groove joint
  4. Music to play by tonguing

intransitive verb

  1. Rare to talk or talk much
  2. to project like a tongue
  3. Music to use tonguing

tongue Idioms

find one's tongue

to recover the ability to talk, as after shock or embarrassment

hold one's tongue

to refrain from speaking

on everyone's tongue

prevailing as common gossip

on the tip of someone's tongue

or on the tip of the tongue
  1. almost said by someone
  2. about to be said, esp. because almost but not quite recalled

speak in tongues

to engage in glossolalia

(with) tongue in cheek

in a humorously ironic, mocking, or insincere way

tongue Synonyms

tongue

n.

  1. The movable muscle in the mouth

    organ of taste, organ of speech, lingua, lingula, blabber*, clacker*, lapper*; see also muscle, organ 2.

    Parts of the tongue used in speech are: tip, apex, front, center, back.

  2. Speech

    speech, utterance, discourse; see language 1.

  3. Something resembling a tongue, sense 1

    shoe tongue, wagon pole, neap, bell clapper, peninsula, movable pin.

find one's tongue

recover one's ability to talk, speak up, begin talking; see talk 1.

hold one's tongue

refrain from speaking, hold back, keep silent; see restrain 1.

on the tip of one's tongue

forgotten, not quite remembered, not readily recalled; see forgotten.

tongue Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • fork: The second set turns to a moment of reptilian horror when A forked tongue is tasting the air above the lip of the well.
  • protrude: A small pink tongue protruded from her black lips.
  • pierce: I did notice her pierced tongue tho, and asked if it hurt when she had it done.
  • loosen: A glass of wine to loosen the tongues -- not that anybody needed a glass of wine to help them speak.
  • gusset: The reinforced upper, including a gusseted tongue and the X10 enhanced aggressive outsole complete this trail machine capable of overcoming any terrain.
  • tie: I would go red and get tongue tied if I felt under pressure to express myself.

Adjective modifier

  • native: Although English is not my native tongue, I've lived and worked in Britain for many years.
  • cloven: And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, & it sat upon each of them.
  • Scots: A braw day for the Scots tongue A new online project to help revitalize the Scots language has been launched.
  • sticky: They detect their prey by movement and have a long sticky tongue which can shoot out to grab the prey.

Modifies a noun

  • twister: The " sixth sick sheik's sixth sheep's sick " is said to be the toughest tongue twister in the English language.
  • depressor: They could do the play as a reader's theater by putting the cut out shapes on tongue depressors!
  • fern: Various orchids were widespread, and Adder's tongue fern was common on unploughed pasture.
  • scraper: I also apply fresh pineapple from time to time to cleanse my tongue and have bought a tongue scraper for this purpose also.

Noun used with modifier

  • mother: My children's mother tongue My three children's mother tongue is British Sign Language.
  • mither: Gie's a break - February 21, 2005 Author(s ): Robbie Shepherd Copyright holder(s ) Robbie Shepherd Text My mither tongue!
  • ox: In addition, tests were carried out on an ox tongue to simulate the loss of muscle tone.

Preposition: in

cheek: Whilst tongue in cheek at the time, he was right.

Preposition: of

flame: Suddenly four wicked red tongues of flame stabbed the sky.