tongue

/tʌɳ/
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tongue

The cat uses its tongue to drink water from a bowl.

Definition

  1. Noun:

    • A muscular organ in the mouth: The movable, fleshy organ in the mouth used for tasting, swallowing, and speaking.
    • A language or manner of speaking: A spoken language or a particular way of speaking.
    • A long, thin, projecting part: Something resembling the shape or function of a tongue, such as a strip of land, a flame, or a piece of material.

  2. Verb:

    • To touch or lick with the tongue: To use the tongue to touch or explore something.
    • To articulate notes on a wind instrument: To use the tongue to start or separate notes when playing a musical instrument like a flute or saxophone.
Examples of Usage

  • Noun:

    • The doctor asked me to stick out my tongue. (Referring to the body part.)
    • English is my native tongue. (Referring to a language.)
    • A tongue of fire shot from the burning building. (Referring to a flame's shape.)
    • He has a sharp tongue. (Referring to a critical manner of speaking.)

  • Verb:

    • The dog tongued the empty food bowl. (Referring to licking.)
    • To play the staccato notes, you must tongue each one clearly. (Referring to musical articulation.)
Advanced Usage

  • "To bite one's tongue": To stop oneself from saying something.

    • I had to bite my tongue to avoid an argument.

  • "On the tip of one's tongue": Almost remembered but not quite.

    • Her name is on the tip of my tongue.

  • "To speak in tongues": To speak in a language unknown to the speaker, often in a religious context.

    • Some religious ceremonies involve participants speaking in tongues.
Variants and Related Words

  • Tongue-tied (adj): Unable to speak, typically due to shyness or nervousness.

    • He was tongue-tied when he met his idol.

  • Tongue-in-cheek (adj/adv): Said or done in an ironic or insincere way.

    • His compliment was clearly tongue-in-cheek.

  • Mother tongue (n): One's native language.

    • My mother tongue is Spanish.
Synonyms
  • Language (n): A system of communication.
  • Lingua (n): A technical or formal term for tongue or language.
  • Dialect (n): A particular form of a language.
Related Phrasal Verbs/Phrases

  • Tongue-lashing (n): A severe scolding or criticism.

    • The manager gave him a tongue-lashing for being late.

  • Slip of the tongue (n): An unintentional error in speaking.

    • Calling her by his ex-wife's name was a slip of the tongue.
Related Idioms

  • Cat got your tongue?: A question asked when someone is unexpectedly silent.

    • You're very quiet today—cat got your tongue?

  • To hold one's tongue: To remain silent.

    • I wished he would hold his tongue during the meeting.
tongue

The cat uses its tongue to drink water from a bowl.

Verb
  1. lick or explore with the tongue
  2. articulate by tonguing, as when playing wind instruments
Noun
  1. metal striker that hangs inside a bell and makes a sound by hitting the side
  2. the flap of material under the laces of a shoe or boot
  3. the tongue of certain animals used as meat
  4. a narrow strip of land that juts out into the sea
  5. a manner of speaking
    • he spoke with a thick tongue
    • she has a glib tongue
  6. any long thin projection that is transient
    • tongues of flame licked at the walls
    • rifles exploded quick knives of fire into the dark
  7. a human written or spoken language used by a community; opposed to e.g. a computer language
  8. a mobile mass of muscular tissue covered with mucous membrane and located in the oral cavity

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