Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- adj. Peculiar to or characteristic of a given language.
- adj. Characterized by proficient use of idiomatic expressions: a foreigner who speaks idiomatic English.
- adj. Resembling or having the nature of an idiom.
- adj. Using many idioms.
- adj. Peculiar to or characteristic of the style or manner of a particular group or people.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- Peculiar to or characteristic of a certain language; pertaining to or exhibiting the particular cast of a language or its characteristic modes of expression.
- Given to or marked by the use of idioms: as, an idiomatic writer.
Wiktionary
- adj. Pertaining or conforming to the mode of expression characteristic of a language.
- adj. Resembling or characteristic of an idiom.
- adj. Using many idioms.
- adj. Parts or pieces which are written both within the natural physical limitations of the instrument and human body and, less so or less often, the styles of playing used on specific instruments.
GNU Webster's 1913
- adj. Of or pertaining to, or conforming to, the mode of expression peculiar to a language
- adj. Of or pertaining to, or of the nature of an idiom{3}; having a meaning that is peculiar to itself and not predictable from general rules.
WordNet 3.0
- adj. of or relating to or conforming to idiom
Examples
“Eloquently stated in idiomatic English, I'm too lazy.”
“I'm married to a non-native speaker and I LOVE getting to explain idiomatic (well, and any other cultural nuanced) expressions to him all the time.”
“We take the vernacular particulars -- that is, the idiomatic particulars that impinge most intimately on our everyday life.”
Blue Devils of Nada: A Contemporary American Approach to Aesthetic Statement
“When I took my first foreign language in high school, I clearly remember being intolerantly amused by the peculiar way Spanish speakers say certain things, which I learned were called idiomatic expressions.”
“idiomatic," but generally interestingly thought out.”
“I´ll fill you guys in on some fun times in one of Mexico´s finest places as soon as I can get around to it starting with some of the best tacos I ever tasted at a whorehouse known as the "I Love You" Cafe and Truckstop (in Isthmus idiomatic Zapateco) just over the Chiapas/Oaxaca state line at San Pedro Tanatepec.”
“Blow ... to kingdom come (i.e. “to heaven”, “to the next world”) is too idiomatic.”
“Plural raghorns raghorn (plural raghorns) (idiomatic, US) Any male elk (bull) with antlers between one and six points, non-inclusive, on either side.”
“I have also loved everyone's "main" idiomatic expressions - I have learned some new phrases, and you have added to my French vocabulary - merci!”
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘idiomatic’.
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G[r]eek
A collection of words found in English that are either purely Greek or have Greek etymology.
Please add with caution and certainty. Will be regularly updated by me.etymology, philosophy, laconic, disharmony, patriarchic, archaic, phlogiston, aether, aeon, angel, arachnid, rhythm and 322 more...
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Words build meanings from origins( etymology )
These come from gamma meditation ,I think.
discursive, exogenous, machinations, purportedly, sumptuous, congruity, cantankerous, incongruous, festoon, hessian, ratiocinative, stratigraphic and 837 more...
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Linguistic Terms
Words that (mostly) only linguists know.
arpabet, protologism, diacritic, macron, macaronic, capitonym, grapheme, boustrophedon, allograph, analphabetic, idiomatic, portmanteau and 39 more...
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