HOW TO PRONOUNCE
tongue
/tʌŋ/
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American Pronunciation Guide · 1:05
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What does tongue mean?
noun
- The flexible muscular organ in the mouth that is used to move food around, for tasting and that is moved into various positions to modify the flow of air from the lungs in order to produce different sounds in speech.
- Such an organ, as taken from animals and used for food (especially from cows).
- 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.
More meanings (33)
noun
- A language.
- A manner of speaking, often habitually.
- A person speaking in a specified manner.
- The power of articulate utterance; speech generally.
- Glossolalia.
- 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).
- 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.
- A long, narrow strip of land, projecting from the mainland into a sea or lake.
- 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.
- The clapper of a bell.
- (figuratively) An individual point of flame from a fire.
- A small sole (type of fish).
- 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.
- A reed.
- 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.
- (obsolete) The speakers of a language, collectively.
- (obsolete) A voice, (the distinctive sound of a person's speech); accent (distinctive manner of pronouncing a language).
- (obsolete) Discourse; the fluency of speech or expression.
- (obsolete) Discourse; fluency of speech or expression.
- (obsolete) Honorable discourse; eulogy.
verb
- 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).
- To manipulate with the tongue.
- To protrude in relatively long, narrow sections.
- To join by means of a tongue and groove.
- (slang, vulgar) To lick, penetrate or manipulate with the tongue during flirting or oral sex.
- (obsolete) To talk; to prate.
- (obsolete) To speak; to utter.
- (obsolete) To chide; to scold.
- (archaic) To flense
proper noun
- A village by the Kyle of Tongue in Sutherland, Highland council area, Scotland (OS grid ref NC5956).
- A surname.
Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0
IPA pronunciation
/tʌŋ/
Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.
In the pages of books
See this word in context.
Let not your ears despise my tongue for ever, Which shall possess them with the heaviest sound That ever yet they heard.
Henchard would fain have recalled him, but his tongue failed in its task, and the young man’s steps died on his ear.
More book examples (3)
She thought she had never seen more surprise and delight than the dark face expressed when she spoke in the familiar tongue.
After a few words in the unknown tongue had passed on either side, Mr. Murthwaite withdrew as quietly as he had approached.
The frequency of this had the effect to establish among the slaves the maxim, that a still tongue makes a wise head.