words

word  (wûrd)

n.

1. A sound or a combination of sounds, or its representation in writing or printing, that symbolizes and communicates a meaning and may consist of a single morpheme or of a combination of morphemes.

2. Something said; an utterance, remark, or comment: May I say a word about that?

3. Computer Science A set of bits constituting the smallest unit of addressable memory.

4. words Discourse or talk; speech: Actions speak louder than words.

5. words Music The text of a vocal composition; lyrics.

6. An assurance or promise; sworn intention: She has kept her word.

7.

a. A command or direction; an order: gave the word to retreat.

b. A verbal signal; a password or watchword.

8.

a. News: Any word on your promotion? See Synonyms at news.

b. Rumor: Word has it they're divorcing.

9. words Hostile or angry remarks made back and forth.

10. Used euphemistically in combination with the initial letter of a term that is considered offensive or taboo or that one does not want to utter: "Although economists here will not call it a recession yet, the dreaded 'R' word is beginning to pop up in the media" Francine S. Kiefer.

11. Word

a. See Logos.

b. The Scriptures; the Bible.

tr.v. word·ed, word·ing, words

To express in words: worded the petition carefully.

interj.

Slang Used to express approval or an affirmative response to something. Sometimes used with up.

Idioms:

at a word

In immediate response.

good word

1. A favorable comment: She put in a good word for me.

2. Favorable news.

have no words for

To be unable to describe or talk about.

in a word

In short; in summary: In a word, the situation is serious.

in so many words

1. In precisely those words; exactly: hinted at impending indictments but did not say it in so many words.

2. Speaking candidly and straightforwardly: In so many words, the weather has been beastly.

of few words

Not conversational or loquacious; laconic: a person of few words.

of (one's) word

Displaying personal dependability: a woman of her word.

take at (one's) word

To be convinced of another's sincerity and act in accord with his or her statement: We took them at their word that the job would be done on time.

upon my word

Indeed; really.

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[Middle English, from Old English; see wer-⁵ in Indo-European roots.]

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words

Noun, pl

1. the text of a song, as opposed to the music

2. the text of an actor's part

3. have words to have an argument or disagreement

4. in other words expressing the same idea in a different, more understandable, way

5. put into words to express in speech or writing: she was reluctant to put her thoughts into words

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	words - the words that are spoken; "I listened to his words very closely" speech communication, spoken communication, spoken language, voice communication, oral communication, speech, language - (language) communication by word of mouth; "his speech was garbled"; "he uttered harsh language"; "he recorded the spoken language of the streets"
	2.	words - the text of a popular song or musical-comedy number; "his compositions always started with the lyrics"; "he wrote both words and music"; "the song uses colloquial language" lyric, language text, textual matter - the words of something written; "there were more than a thousand words of text"; "they handed out the printed text of the mayor's speech"; "he wants to reconstruct the original text" song, vocal - a short musical composition with words; "a successful musical must have at least three good songs" love lyric - the lyric of a love song
	3.	words - language that is spoken or written; "he has a gift for words"; "she put her thoughts into words" language, linguistic communication - a systematic means of communicating by the use of sounds or conventional symbols; "he taught foreign languages"; "the language introduced is standard throughout the text"; "the speed with which a program can be executed depends on the language in which it is written"
	4.	words - an angry dispute; "they had a quarrel"; "they had words" dustup, quarrel, run-in, wrangle, row difference of opinion, dispute, difference, conflict - a disagreement or argument about something important; "he had a dispute with his wife"; "there were irreconcilable differences"; "the familiar conflict between Republicans and Democrats" affray, altercation, fracas - noisy quarrel pettifoggery, spat, squabble, tiff, bicker, bickering, fuss - a quarrel about petty points bust-up - a serious quarrel (especially one that ends a friendship)
	5.	words - words making up the dialogue of a play; "the actor forgot his speech" actor's line, speech dialog, dialogue - the lines spoken by characters in drama or fiction aside - a line spoken by an actor to the audience but not intended for others on the stage cue - an actor's line that immediately precedes and serves as a reminder for some action or speech monologue - a (usually long) dramatic speech by a single actor soliloquy - a (usually long) dramatic speech intended to give the illusion of unspoken reflections throwaway - words spoken in a casual way with conscious under-emphasis line - text consisting of a row of words written across a page or computer screen; "the letter consisted of three short lines"; "there are six lines in every stanza"