- word
- word [wʉrd]n.[ME < OE, akin to Ger wort < IE * werdh- (extension of base * wer-, to speak, say) > Gr eirein, to speak, L verbum, word]1.a) a speech sound, or series of them, serving to communicate meaning and consisting of at least one base morpheme with or without prefixes or suffixes; unit of language between the morpheme and the sentenceb) a letter or group of letters representing such a unit of language, written or printed usually in solid or hyphenated form2. a brief expression, statement, remark, etc. [a word of advice]3. a promise, affirmation, or assurance [to give a person one's word]4. news; information; tidings [no word from home; what's the good word?]5.a) a password or signalb) a command, order, or authorization [waiting for the word to go ahead]6.a) [usually pl.] talk; speechb) [pl.] the lyrics, text, libretto, etc. of a musical composition that is sung7. [pl.] a quarrel; dispute; argument8. Archaic a saying; proverb9. Comput. a basic unit of storage in a memory, consisting of a certain number of bitsvt.to express in words; phrase——————a good worda favorable comment, or commendation——————at a wordin quick response to a request or command; immediately——————be as good as one's wordto live up to one's promises——————break one's wordto fail to keep one's promise——————hang on someone's wordsto listen to someone eagerly——————have a word withto have a brief conversation with——————have no words forto be incapable of describing——————have words withto argue angrily with——————in a wordin short; briefly——————in so many wordsexactly and plainly——————man of his word or woman of her worda person who keeps his (or her) promises——————of many (or few) wordstalkative (or not talkative)take someone at his ( or her) word——————take someone at his word or take someone at her wordto take someone's words literally or seriously and, often, act accordingly——————take the words right out of someone's mouth or take the words out of someone's mouthto say just what someone (else) was about to say——————the Word1. LOGOS2. GOSPEL (sense 1)——————upon my word! or my word!indeed! really!: an exclamation of surprise, irritation, etc.——————word for wordin precisely the same words; exactly; verbatim
English World dictionary. V. Neufeldt. 2014.