tongue

A tongue is the muscular organ attached to the floor of the mouth in most animals or something that resembles a tongue's shape. (noun)

An example of a tongue is the muscular part inside the mouth that helps you taste food.
An example of a tongue is part of a sneaker that gets tucked in on the top of the foot before the shoe is laced up.

Tongue means a spoken language or dialect. (noun)

An example of a tongue is someone speaking Spanish at home.

Tongue means to touch or lick with the tongue. (verb)

An example of to tongue is lightly tasting something with the tip of your tongue that you're not sure you'll like.

See tongue in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

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
an analogous part in invertebrate animals; specif.,
1. a radula
2. the proboscis in certain insects, as bees
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
the cry of a hunting dog, etc. in sight of game: chiefly in , to start barking
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.

transitive verb tongued, tonguing

Archaic
1. to reproach or scold
2. to speak or say
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
Music to play by tonguing

intransitive verb

See tongue in American Heritage Dictionary 4

(tŭng)

noun

a. The fleshy, movable, muscular organ, attached in most vertebrates to the floor of the mouth, that is the principal organ of taste, an aid in chewing and swallowing, and, in humans, an important organ of speech.
b. An analogous organ or part in invertebrate animals, as in certain insects or mollusks.
The tongue of an animal, such as a cow, used as food.
A spoken language or dialect.
a. Speech; talk: If there is goodness in your heart, it will come to your tongue.
b. The act or power of speaking: She had no tongue to answer.
c. tongues Speech or vocal sounds produced in a state of religious ecstasy.
d. Style or quality of utterance: her sharp tongue.
The bark or baying of a hunting dog that sees game: The dog gave tongue when the fox came through the hedge.
Something resembling a tongue in shape or function, as:
a. The vibrating end of a reed in a wind instrument.
b. A flame.
c. The flap of material under the laces or buckles of a shoe.
d. A spit of land; a promontory.
e. A bell clapper.
f. The harnessing pole attached to the front axle of a horse-drawn vehicle.
A protruding strip along the edge of a board that fits into a matching groove on the edge of another board.

verb tongued tongued, tongu·ing, tongues

verb, transitive

Music To separate or articulate (notes played on a brass or wind instrument) by shutting off the stream of air with the tongue.
To touch or lick with the tongue.
a. To provide (a board) with a tongue.
b. To join by means of a tongue and groove.
Archaic To scold.

verb, intransitive

Learn more about tongue

» tongue synonyms

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