gesture

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. A motion of the limbs or body made to express or help express thought or to emphasize speech.
2. n. The act of moving the limbs or body as an expression of thought or emphasis.
3. n. An act or a remark made as a formality or as a sign of intention or attitude: sent flowers as a gesture of sympathy.
4. v. To make gestures.
5. v. To show, express, or direct by gestures.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. Movement of the body or limbs; carriage of the person.
2. n. A motion of the head, body, or limbs expressive of thought, sentiment, or passion; any action or posture intended to express a thought or a feeling, or to emphasize or illustrate what is said.
3. n. Bearing; behavior, in a general sense.
4. n. Synonyms Gesture, Gesticulation. These words may have the same meaning, but gesture is more common to represent the thing, while gesticulation generally represents the act, and especially vigorous, varied, and rapid action: as, rapid and abundant gesticulation; a slight gesture of impatience.
5. To gesticulate; make gestures.
6. To accompany or enforce with gesture or action.

Wiktionary

1. n. A motion of the limbs or body, especially one made to emphasize speech.
2. n. An act or a remark made as a formality or as a sign of attitude.
3. v. intransitive To make a gesture or gestures.
4. v. transitive To express something by a gesture or gestures.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. obsolete Manner of carrying the body; position of the body or limbs; posture.
2. n. A motion of the body or limbs expressive of sentiment or passion; any action or posture intended to express an idea or a passion, or to enforce or emphasize an argument, assertion, or opinion.
3. v. To accompany or illustrate with gesture or action; to gesticulate.
4. v. To make gestures; to gesticulate.

WordNet 3.0

1. v. show, express or direct through movement
2. n. something done as an indication of intention
3. n. the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals
4. n. motion of hands or body to emphasize or help to express a thought or feeling