WordGarden.iotongue
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /tˈʌŋ/
US
- /ˈtəŋ/
Meanings
Noun
the muscular organ in the mouth used for taste, speech, and moving food
a human language, especially someone's native language
speech or a person's way of speaking
More meaningsFewer meanings
a projecting strip or flap on something, especially inside a shoe or in a fastening
Verb
to touch or lick with the tongue
to articulate notes on a wind instrument by using the tongue
Beyond the definition
The tongue is the muscular part in your mouth that helps you taste, speak, and swallow. It is also tied to what people say and how they say it. You might "hold your tongue" when you stop yourself from speaking, or say someone has a "sharp tongue" when they speak in a harsh or unkind way.
The word "tongue" can also mean a language, especially in a formal, literary, or old-fashioned style. So, learning a new tongue means learning a new language. It can also refer to a person's manner of speaking, especially when their words have a strong effect on others.
The tongue is the muscular organ in the mouth that plays an important part in taste, speech, and swallowing. It helps move food around, forms sounds for speech, and contains taste buds that let us notice flavors such as sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami.
The word is also often used in a figurative way to mean speech or the power of spoken words. We talk about someone having "a sharp tongue" if they speak cruelly, "a silver tongue" if they speak in a smooth and persuasive way, or "biting your tongue" when you stop yourself from saying something.
Beyond the physical meaning, "tongue" can also mean a language, especially in formal, poetic, religious, or older writing. If someone speaks "three tongues," they speak three languages. The phrase "mother tongue" means the first language a person learns as a child.
In some contexts, "tongue" can also mean a style or variety of speech. In older expressions, it may stand for a people or group identified by their language. So the word can point to a body part, spoken words, a language, or a way of speaking, depending on the context.
Examples
- 1
Physical injury
I burned my tongue on the hot soup.
- 2
Medical exam
The doctor asked me to stick out my tongue.
- 3
Self-control
I had to bite my tongue when he blamed me for the mistake.
- Phrasebite your tongue
stop yourself from saying what you really think
- 4
First language
English is not her mother tongue.
- Phrasemother tongue
your first language
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Critical speech
He has a sharp tongue when he's tired.
- Phrasea sharp tongue
a way of speaking that is quick and often unkind
- 6
Staying quiet
Hold your tongue until everyone has finished speaking.
- Phrasehold your tongue
stay quiet
- 7
Almost remembered
Her name was on the tip of my tongue, but I still couldn't remember it.
- Phraseon the tip of your tongue
almost remembered, but not quite
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- tonguenounverb
Forms
- tonguespluralnounverb
- tonguedpast tenseverbnoun
- tonguing-ing formverbnoun