n.
- The fleshy, movable, muscular organ, attached in most vertebrates to the floor of the mouth, that is the principal organ of taste, an aid in chewing and swallowing, and, in humans, an important organ of speech.
- An analogous organ or part in invertebrate animals, as in certain insects or mollusks.
- The tongue of an animal, such as a cow, used as food.
- A spoken language or dialect.
- Speech; talk: If there is goodness in your heart, it will come to your tongue.
- The act or power of speaking: She had no tongue to answer.
- tongues Speech or vocal sounds produced in a state of religious ecstasy.
- Style or quality of utterance: her sharp tongue.
- The bark or baying of a hunting dog that sees game: The dog gave tongue when the fox came through the hedge.
- Something resembling a tongue in shape or function, as:
- The vibrating end of a reed in a wind instrument.
- A flame.
- The flap of material under the laces or buckles of a shoe.
- A spit of land; a promontory.
- A bell clapper.
- The harnessing pole attached to the front axle of a horse-drawn vehicle.
- A protruding strip along the edge of a board that fits into a matching groove on the edge of another board.
v., tongued, tongu·ing, tongues. v.tr.
- Music. To separate or articulate (notes played on a brass or wind instrument) by shutting off the stream of air with the tongue.
- To touch or lick with the tongue.
- To provide (a board) with a tongue.
- To join by means of a tongue and groove.
- Archaic. To scold.
- Music. To articulate notes on a brass or wind instrument.
- To project: a spit of land tonguing into the bay.
hold (one's) tongue
- To be or keep silent.
- To lose the capacity to speak, as from shock.
- On the verge of being recalled or expressed.
- To speak deceitfully; prevaricate or lie.
[Middle English, from Old English tunge.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
