gesticulatory
Definition
Adjective: Relating to or characterized by gesticulation; involving the use of gestures, especially lively or expressive movements of the hands and arms, to convey meaning or emotion.
Usage Examples
- (His use of hand and arm movements added liveliness to the narrative.)
- (The excessive gesturing distracted from the verbal message.)
- (Using gestures while speaking is culturally accepted.)
Advanced Usage
"gesticulatory emphasis": the use of gestures to stress a point in speech.
- She added gesticulatory emphasis to her argument by pointing sharply at the chart. (She used hand movements to reinforce her spoken point.)
"gesticulatory language": a non-verbal communication system relying on gestures.
- Deaf communities often develop a rich gesticulatory language beyond formal sign language. (Gestures supplement or replace spoken words.)
Variants and Related Words
Gesticulate (verb): to make gestures, especially when speaking.
- He gesticulated wildly to show his excitement. (He moved his hands and arms energetically.)
Gesticulation (noun): the act of making gestures; a gesture itself.
- Her gesticulation was so dramatic that it seemed rehearsed. (The act of gesturing appeared theatrical.)
Gesticulatory (adjective): this is the same word as the target; no variant spelling.
Synonyms
Gestural: relating to or consisting of gestures.
- The dancer's gestural movements told a story without words. (Movements conveyed meaning.)
Expressive: effectively conveying thought or feeling.
- His expressive hands added depth to his speech. (Hand movements were full of meaning.)
Related Idioms
- (None directly associated with "gesticulatory") — The word is technical and not commonly used in idioms. However, the concept appears in:
- Talk with one's hands: to gesture while speaking.
- She talks with her hands so much that you can understand her without hearing. (She relies heavily on gesticulation.)