verbal

ver·bal  (vûrbl)

adj.

1. Of, relating to, or associated with words: a detailed verbal description.

2.

a. Concerned with words only rather than with content or ideas: a merely verbal distinction.

b. Consisting of words alone without action: a verbal confrontation.

3. Expressed in spoken rather than written words; oral: a verbal contract.

4. Corresponding word for word; literal: a verbal translation.

5. Grammar

a. Relating to, having the nature or function of, or derived from a verb.

b. Used to form verbs: a verbal suffix.

6. Of or relating to proficiency in the use and understanding of words: a verbal aptitude test.

n. Grammar

A verbal noun or adjective.

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[Middle English, from Old French, from Late Latin verblis, from Latin verbum, word; see verb.]

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verbal·ly adv.

Usage Note: Verbal has been used since the 16th century to refer to spoken, as opposed to written, communication, and the usage cannot be considered incorrect. But because verbal may also mean "by linguistic means," it may be ambiguous in some contexts. Thus the phrase modern technologies for verbal communication may refer only to devices such as radio, the telephone, and the loudspeaker, or it may refer to devices such as the telegraph, the teletype, and the fax machine. In such contexts it may be clearer to use the word oral to convey the narrower sense of communication by spoken means.

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verbal [ˈvɜːb^əl]

adj

1. of, relating to, or using words, esp as opposed to ideas, etc. merely verbal concessions

2. oral rather than written a verbal agreement

3. verbatim; literal an almost verbal copy

4. (Linguistics / Grammar) Grammar of or relating to verbs or a verb

n

1. (Linguistics / Grammar) Grammar another word for verbid

2. (plural) Slang abuse or invective new forms of on-field verbals

3. (plural) Slang a criminal's admission of guilt on arrest

vb -bals, -balling, -balled (tr)

Slang (of the police) to implicate (someone) in a crime by quoting alleged admission of guilt in court

verbally  adv

Thesaurus

Adj.	1.	verbal - communicated in the form of words; "verbal imagery"; "a verbal protest" communicatory, communicative - able or tending to communicate; "was a communicative person and quickly told all she knew"- W.M.Thackeray
	2.	verbal - of or relating to or formed from words in general; "verbal ability"
	3.	verbal - of or relating to or formed from a verb; "verbal adjectives like `running' in `hot and cold running water'"
	4.	verbal - relating to or having facility in the use of words; "a good poet is a verbal artist"; "a merely verbal writer who sacrifices content to sound"; "verbal aptitude" mathematical, numerical - relating to or having ability to think in or work with numbers; "tests for rating numerical aptitude"; "a mathematical whiz"
	5.	verbal - expressed in spoken words; "a verbal contract" spoken - uttered through the medium of speech or characterized by speech; sometimes used in combination; "a spoken message"; "the spoken language"; "a soft-spoken person"; "sharp-spoken"
	6.	verbal - prolix; "you put me to forget a lady's manners by being so verbal"- Shakespeare archaicism, archaism - the use of an archaic expression prolix - tediously prolonged or tending to speak or write at great length; "editing a prolix manuscript"; "a prolix lecturer telling you more than you want to know"

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verbal

adjective spoken, oral, word-of-mouth, unwritten, verbatim, literal We have a verbal agreement with our suppliers.

Translations

verbal [ˈvɜːbəl] ADJ → verbal
a verbal agreement → un acuerdo verbal
verbal diarrhoea → verborrea f

verbal [ˈvɜː^rb^əl] adj

(= spoken) [agreement, warning, attack] → verbal(e)

(= using words) [skills, communication] → verbal(e)

(GRAMMAR) [noun, group] → verbal(e)
a verbal noun → un déverbal
verbal abuse n → injures fpl

verbal

adj

(= spoken) statement, agreement → mündlich; verbal abuse → Beschimpfung f; verbal attack → Verbalattacke f; verbal warning → mündliche Verwarnung

(= of words) error, skills, distinction → sprachlich; verbal memory → Wortgedächtnis nt; a verbal reasoning test → ein Test m → des logischen Denkvermögens

(= literal) translation → wörtlich

(Gram) → verbal

verbal [ˈvɜːb/əl] adj → verbale

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verbal [ˈvɜːb/əl] adj → verbale