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American Heritage Dictionary (27 definitions)
- A sound or a combination of sounds, or its representation in writing or printing, that symbolizes and communicates a meaning and may consist of a single morpheme or of a combination of morphemes.
- Something said; an utterance, remark, or comment: May I say a word about that?
- Computer Science A set of bits constituting the smallest unit of addressable memory.
- Discourse or talk; speech: Actions speak louder than words.
- Music The text of a vocal composition; lyrics.
- An assurance or promise; sworn intention: She has kept her word.
- A command or direction; an order: gave the word to retreat.
- A verbal signal; a password or watchword.
- News: Any word on your promotion? See Synonyms at news.
- Rumor: Word has it they're divorcing.
- Hostile or angry remarks made back and forth.
- Used euphemistically in combination with the initial letter of a term that is considered offensive or taboo or that one does not want to utter: "Although economists here will not call it a recession yet, the dreaded 'R' word is beginning to pop up in the media” (Francine S. Kiefer).
- See Logos.
- The Scriptures; the Bible.
- To express in words: worded the petition carefully.
- Slang Used to express approval or an affirmative response to something. Sometimes used with up.
- at a word In immediate response.
- good word A favorable comment: She put in a good word for me.
- good word Favorable news.
- have no words for To be unable to describe or talk about.
- in a word In short; in summary: In a word, the situation is serious.
- in so many words In precisely those words; exactly: hinted at impending indictments but did not say it in so many words.
- in so many words Speaking candidly and straightforwardly: In so many words, the weather has been beastly.
- of few words Not conversational or loquacious; laconic: a person of few words.
- of (one's) word Displaying personal dependability: a woman of her word.
- take at (one's) word To be convinced of another's sincerity and act in accord with his or her statement: We took them at their word that the job would be done on time.
- upon my word Indeed; really.
–noun
–transitive verb
–interjection
–idiom
Century Dictionary (22 definitions)
GNU Webster's 1913 (12 definitions)
WordNet (11 definitions)
Elsewhere on the web
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The English word comes from a Latin word that means sacred, consecrated, devoted to holy purposes.
The word comes from the Latin word caedere, which means "to cut."
The word comes from the Latin word crispa meaning curly.
— AnalysisThe word comes from the Latin word pocillum, which means "a small cup."
Almost every third word is a Latin word with a Germanized ending, the
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Pronunciations
/ (wûrd)/
ahd pronounces "word"
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Etymology
American Heritage Dictionary (1)
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Middle English, from Old English; see wer-5 in Indo-European roots.
Century Dictionary
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Word has been looked up 1,833 times, favorited 5 times, listed 99 times, commented on 14 times, and has a Scrabble score of 8.