tongue

/tʌɳ/

Definition

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.
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

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.

Verb

Noun

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

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