Sekirov Dictionary

tongue

/tʌŋ/

noun 25
verb 9
forms 3
phrases 17

noun25

•
the part of the body that tastes food, moves it around the mouth and helps you speak
- But lering and lurking here and there like spies, — 1515
•
Such an organ, as taken from animals and used for food (especially from cows).
- However you eat them, tongue and chicken and new bread are very good things, and no one minds being sprinkled a little with soda-water on a really fine hot day. — 1902
Any similar organ, such as the lingual ribbon, or odontophore, of a mollusk; the proboscis of a moth or butterfly; or the lingua of an insect.
•
A language.
- He was speaking in his native tongue.
•
[in the plural] Glossolalia.
- Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. — 1611
•
A manner of speaking, often habitually.
- She can have a sharp tongue when she's annoyed.
•
A long, narrow strip of land, projecting from the mainland into a sea or lake.
- On one side was a coral reef; on the other a low tongue of land, covered with mangrove thickets that grew out into the water. — 1851
A division of formation; A layer or member of a formation that pinches out in one direction.
The middle protrusion of a triple-tailed flag.
•
(figurative) An individual point of flame from a fire.
- Then up a steep and dark and narrow stair We wound, until the torches’ fiery tongue Amid the gushing day beamless and pallid hung. — 1818
•
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).
- I caught a glimpse of a brown boot, the tongue flapping, the sole tied on with string. — 1990
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.
A projection, or slender appendage or fixture.
•
The pole of a towed or drawn vehicle or farm implement (e.g., trailer, cart, plow, harrow), by which it is pulled; for example, the pole of an ox cart, to the end of which the oxen are yoked.
- Far to the right, where the main pile sloped out, his cart reared tongue upward, like a plow. — 1986
•
The clapper of a bell.
- The iron tongue of midnight hath told twelve: — 1595
•
The power of articulate utterance; speech generally.
- I was so overwhelmed my tongue deserted me.
•
[usually plural] A person speaking in a specified manner.
- I know that we must keep apart for a long while; cruel tongues would force us apart, if nothing else did. — 1860
A small sole (type of fish).
A reed.
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.
•
(no longer used) A voice, (the distinctive sound of a person's speech); accent (distinctive manner of pronouncing a language).
- Who are you? Tell me, for more certainty, Albeit I’ll swear that I do know your tongue. — 1596
(no longer used) Discourse; the fluency of speech or expression.
•
(no longer used) Discourse; fluency of speech or expression.
- [...] fellows, soldiers, friends, Better consider what you have to do Than I, that have not well the gift of tongue, Can lift your blood up with persuasion. — 1597
•
(no longer used) The speakers of a language, collectively.
- I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory. — 1611
•
(no longer used) Honorable discourse; eulogy.
- She was born noble; let that title find her A private grave, but neither tongue nor honour! — 1607

verb9

•
To manipulate with the tongue.
- [T]he cattle tongued at the damp grass, licking rather than grazing. […] — 1985
•
(slang, vulgar) To lick, penetrate or manipulate with the tongue during flirting or oral sex.
- Hot I tongued her. She kissed me. I was kissed. All yielding she tossed my hair. Kissed, she kissed me. — 1922
•
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).
- Playing wind instruments involves tonguing on the reed or mouthpiece.
•
To join by means of a tongue and groove.
- to tongue boards together
To protrude in relatively long, narrow sections.
(no longer used) To talk; to prate.
(no longer used) To speak; to utter.
•
(no longer used) To chide; to scold.
- How might she tongue me! — 1603
(no longer used) To flense

forms

tongued · tonguing · tongues

Phrases with tongue

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