word

Alternative forms

• vurd (Bermuda)
• worde (obsolete)

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA: /wɜːd/
• (General American) enPR: wûrd, IPA: /wɝd/
• Homophone: whirred (accents with the wine-whine merger)

Noun

word (countable and uncountable, plural words)

1. The smallest unit of language that has a particular meaning and can be expressed by itself; the smallest discrete, meaningful unit of language. (contrast morpheme.)

   1. The smallest discrete unit of spoken language with a particular meaning, composed of one or more phonemes and one or more morphemes
   2. The smallest discrete unit of written language with a particular meaning, composed of one or more letters or symbols and one or more morphemes
   3. A discrete, meaningful unit of language approved by an authority or native speaker (compare non-word).
2. Something like such a unit of language:
   • Hypernym: syntagma
   1. A sequence of letters, characters, or sounds, considered as a discrete entity, though it does not necessarily belong to a language or have a meaning
   2. (telegraphy) A unit of text equivalent to five characters and one space.
   3. (computing) A fixed-size group of bits handled as a unit by a machine and which can be stored in or retrieved from a typical register (so that it has the same size as such a register).
   4. (computer science) A finite string that is not a command or operator.
   5. (group theory) A group element, expressed as a product of group elements.
3. The fact or act of speaking, as opposed to taking action. .
4. (now rare outside certain phrases) Something that someone said; a comment, utterance; speech.
5. (obsolete outside certain phrases) A watchword or rallying cry, a verbal signal (even when consisting of multiple words).
   • mum's the word
6. (obsolete) A proverb or motto.
7. (uncountable) News; tidings.
   • Have you had any word from John yet?
   • I've tried for weeks to get word, but I still don't know where she is or if she's all right.
8. An order; a request or instruction; an expression of will.
   • He sent word that we should strike camp before winter.
   • Don't fire till I give the word
   • Their mother's word was law.
9. A promise; an oath or guarantee.
   • I give you my word that I will be there on time.
   • Synonym: promise
10. A brief discussion or conversation.
    • Can I have a word with you?
11. (meiosis) A minor reprimand.
    • I had a word with him about it.
12. (in the plural) See words.
    • There had been words between him and the secretary about the outcome of the meeting.
13. (theology, sometimes Word) Communication from God; the message of the Christian gospel; the Bible, Scripture.
    • Her parents had lived in Botswana, spreading the word among the tribespeople.
    • Synonyms: word of God, Bible
14. (theology, sometimes Word) Logos, Christ.
    • Synonyms: God, Logos

Verb

word (third-person singular simple present words, present participle wording, simple past and past participle worded)

1. (transitive) To say or write (something) using particular words; to phrase (something).
   • Synonyms: express, phrase, put into words, state
   • I’m not sure how to word this letter to the council.
2. (transitive, obsolete) To flatter with words, to cajole.
3. (transitive) To ply or overpower with words.
4. (transitive, rare) To conjure with a word.
5. (intransitive, archaic) To speak, to use words; to converse, to discourse.

Interjection

word

1. (slang, African-American Vernacular) Truth, indeed, that is the truth! The shortened form of the statement "My word is my bond."
   • "Yo, that movie was epic!" / "Word?" ("You speak the truth?") / "Word." ("I speak the truth.")
2. (slang, emphatic, stereotypically, African-American Vernacular) An abbreviated form of word up; a statement of the acknowledgment of fact with a hint of nonchalant approval.

Quotations

• For quotations using this term, see word.

Verb

word

1. Alternative form of worth (“to become”).

Anagrams

• drow

Pronunciation

• IPA: /vɔrt/

Verb

word (present word, present participle wordende, past participle geword)

1. to become; to get (to change one’s state)
   • Ek het ryk geword.

     • I became rich.
   • Ek word ryk.

     • I am becoming rich.
   • Sy word beter.

     • She is getting better.
2. Forms the present passive voice when followed by a past participle
   • Die kat word gevoer.

     • The cat is being fed.

Alternative forms

• 𭉉 (Chinese characters)

Noun

word

1. word

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ʋɔrt/

Verb

word

1. first-person singular present indicative of worden
2. imperative of worden

Alternative forms

• wurd, weord, vord, woord, wourd, worde

Pronunciation

• IPA: /wurd/, /woːrd/

Noun

word (plural wordes or (Early ME) word)

1. A word (separable, discrete linguistic unit)
2. A statement; a linguistic unit said or written by someone:
   1. A speech; a formal statement.
   2. A byword or maxim; a short expression of truth.
   3. A promise; an oath or guarantee.
   4. A motto; a expression associated with a person or people.
   5. A piece of news (often warning or recommending)
   6. An order or directive; something necessary.
   7. A religious precept, stricture, or belief.
3. Discourse; the exchange of statements.
4. The act of speaking (especially as opposed to action)
5. The basic, non-figurative reading of something.
6. The way one speaks (especially with modifying adjective)
7. (theology) The Logos (Jesus Christ)
8. (rare) The human faculty of language as a whole.

Alternative forms

• ƿord
• wyrde

Pronunciation

• IPA: /word/, [worˠd]

Noun

word n (nominative plural word)

1. word
2. speech, utterance, statement
3. (grammar) verb
4. news, information, rumour
5. command, request

Noun

word ?

1. thornbush

Pronunciation

• IPA: /wɔrd/

Noun

word n

1. word