tongue

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
4. 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
5. 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, tonguing tongu′·ing

1. Archaic
   1. to reproach or scold
   2. to speak or say
2. to touch, lick, etc. with the tongue
3. 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