Background for tongues

tongues

/tʌŋz/

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noun

The flexible muscular organ in the mouth that is used to move food around, for tasting and that is moved into various positions to modify the flow of air from the lungs in order to produce different sounds in speech.

Examples :

"The doctor asked me to stick out my tongue so she could check for any signs of illness. "

body organ anatomy physiology food language sensation communication human part linguistics

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noun

This organ, as taken from animals used for food (especially cows).−

Examples :

"cold tongue with mustard"

food animal organ body

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noun

(metonym) A language.

Examples :

"He was speaking in his native tongue."

language linguistics communication

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noun

Speakers of a language, collectively.

Examples :

"In our diverse school, many tongues are spoken, from Spanish and Mandarin to French and Arabic. "

language communication

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noun

Voice (the distinctive sound of a person's speech); accent (distinctive manner of pronouncing a language).

Examples :

"Even though they both spoke French, I could tell they were from different regions by their tongues. "

language linguistics phonetics communication sound

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noun

Manner of speaking, often habitually.

Examples :

"My brother has a particular way of speaking; his tongues are always full of jokes. "

language communication way

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noun

(metonym) A person speaking in a specified manner (most often plural).

Examples :

"At the international school, French and English tongues could be heard in the hallways. "

language person communication

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noun

The power of articulate utterance; speech generally.

Examples :

"In the United Nations, translators are essential so people from different countries can understand each other, even when they speak in different tongues. "

language communication

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noun noun

Discourse; fluency of speech or expression.

Examples :

""After years of living in France, her tongues in French and English flowed easily and naturally." "

language communication ability

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Discourse; fluency of speech or expression.

Examples :

"She has mastered several foreign languages and speaks fluently in many tongues. "

language communication ability

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noun

Honourable discourse; eulogy.

Examples :

"After her retirement, many tongues sang her praises for her years of dedicated service to the school. "

language literature communication

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noun

(often in the plural) Glossolalia.

Examples :

"During the church service, some people began speaking in tongues, their voices rising in a language no one understood. "

religion language

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noun

In a shoe, the flap of material that goes between the laces and the foot (so called because it resembles a tongue in the mouth).

Examples :

"Before tying my shoes, I always make sure the tongues are flat against my socks so they don't feel uncomfortable. "

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noun

Any large or long physical protrusion on an automotive or machine part or any other part that fits into a long groove on another part.

Examples :

"The car's suspension has several metal tongues that connect to the frame. "

technical machine part

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noun

A projection, or slender appendage or fixture.

Examples :

"The shoelaces have plastic tongues at the ends to make them easier to thread through the eyelets. "

part body organ

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noun

A long, narrow strip of land, projecting from the mainland into a sea or lake.

Examples :

"From the airplane window, we could see several tongues of land stretching out into the blue ocean. "

geography place

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noun

The pole of a vehicle; especially, the pole of an ox cart, to the end of which the oxen are yoked.

Examples :

"The farmer carefully attached the yoke to the oxen's necks and then to the tongues of the heavy wooden cart. "

vehicle agriculture part

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noun

The clapper of a bell.

Examples :

"The church bells fell silent when the tongues were removed for repair. "

sound music bell-ringing utensil

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noun

An individual point of flame from a fire.

Examples :

"The campfire crackled, and orange tongues of flame licked at the dry wood. "

energy physics nature

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noun

A small sole (type of fish).

Examples :

"I ordered fried tongues and chips at the seaside restaurant. "

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noun

A short piece of rope spliced into the upper part of standing backstays, etc.; also, the upper main piece of a mast composed of several pieces.

Examples :

"The sailboat's new rigging included strong, well-maintained tongues. "

nautical part sailing

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noun

Examples :

"The musician carefully replaced the worn tongues in his accordion so it would play properly again. "

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noun

A division of formation; A layer or member of a formation that pinches out in one direction.

Examples :

"The geologist pointed out thin tongues of sandstone that extended briefly into the shale layer, then disappeared. "

geology part structure

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verb

On a wind instrument, to articulate a note by starting the air with a tap of the tongue, as though by speaking a 'd' or 't' sound (alveolar plosive).

Examples :

"Playing wind instruments involves tonguing on the reed or mouthpiece."

music sound technical language phonetics communication

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verb

To manipulate with the tongue, as in kissing or oral sex.

body sex action human

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verb

To protrude in relatively long, narrow sections.

Examples :

"a soil horizon that tongues into clay"

body physiology action

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verb

To join by means of a tongue and groove.

Examples :

"to tongue boards together"

technical building structure

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verb

To talk; to prate.

Examples :

"The gossips tongues about who would be laid off next, filling the office with rumors. "

language communication

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verb

To speak; to utter.

Examples :

"The baby tongues her first words, "Mama" and "Dada," to her delighted parents. "

language communication

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verb

To chide; to scold.

Examples :

"The teacher often tongues students who don't complete their homework. "

communication language word