language
♦♦ lan|guage /l'æŋgwɪdʒ/ (languages)
1 [N-COUNT]
A language is a system of communication which consists of a set of sounds and written symbols which are used by the people of a particular country or region for talking or writing.
...the English language...
Students are expected to master a second language...
2 [N-UNCOUNT]
Language is the use of a system of communication which consists of a set of sounds or written symbols.
Students examined how children acquire language...
3 [N-UNCOUNT] the N of n, supp N
You can refer to the words used in connection with a particular subject as the language of that subject.
...the language of business.
4 [N-UNCOUNT] adj N, poss N
You can refer to someone's use of rude words or swearing as bad language when you find it offensive.
Television companies tend to censor bad language in feature films...
There's a girl gonna be in the club, so you guys watch your language.
5 [N-UNCOUNT] with supp
The language of a piece of writing or speech is the style in which it is written or spoken.
...a booklet summarising it in plain language...
The tone of his language was diplomatic and polite...
6 [N-VAR] supp N, N of n
You can use language to refer to various means of communication involving recognizable symbols, non-verbal sounds, or actions.
Some sign languages are very sophisticated means of communication.
...the digital language of computers.body lan|guage
also body-language
[N-UNCOUNT]
Your body language is the way in which you show your feelings or thoughts to other people by means of the position or movements of your body, rather than with words.first lan|guage (first languages)
[N-COUNT]
Someone's first language is the language that they learned first and speak best; used especially when someone speaks more than one language.lan|guage la|bora|tory (language laboratories)
[N-COUNT]
A language laboratory is a classroom equipped with tape recorders or computers where people can practise listening to and talking foreign languages.lan|guage school (language schools)
[N-COUNT]
A language school is a private school where a foreign language is taught.sec|ond lan|guage (second languages)
[N-COUNT]
Someone's second language is a language which is not their native language but which they use at work or at school.
Lucy teaches English as a second language...sign lan|guage (sign languages)
[N-VAR]
Sign language is movements of your hands and arms used to communicate. There are several official systems of sign language, used for example by deaf people. Movements are also sometimes invented by people when they want to communicate with someone who does not speak the same language.
Her son used sign language to tell her what happened.
1 [N-COUNT]
A language is a system of communication which consists of a set of sounds and written symbols which are used by the people of a particular country or region for talking or writing.
...the English language...
Students are expected to master a second language...
2 [N-UNCOUNT]
Language is the use of a system of communication which consists of a set of sounds or written symbols.
Students examined how children acquire language...
3 [N-UNCOUNT] the N of n, supp N
You can refer to the words used in connection with a particular subject as the language of that subject.
...the language of business.
4 [N-UNCOUNT] adj N, poss N
You can refer to someone's use of rude words or swearing as bad language when you find it offensive.
Television companies tend to censor bad language in feature films...
There's a girl gonna be in the club, so you guys watch your language.
5 [N-UNCOUNT] with supp
The language of a piece of writing or speech is the style in which it is written or spoken.
...a booklet summarising it in plain language...
The tone of his language was diplomatic and polite...
6 [N-VAR] supp N, N of n
You can use language to refer to various means of communication involving recognizable symbols, non-verbal sounds, or actions.
Some sign languages are very sophisticated means of communication.
...the digital language of computers.body lan|guage
also body-language
[N-UNCOUNT]
Your body language is the way in which you show your feelings or thoughts to other people by means of the position or movements of your body, rather than with words.first lan|guage (first languages)
[N-COUNT]
Someone's first language is the language that they learned first and speak best; used especially when someone speaks more than one language.lan|guage la|bora|tory (language laboratories)
[N-COUNT]
A language laboratory is a classroom equipped with tape recorders or computers where people can practise listening to and talking foreign languages.lan|guage school (language schools)
[N-COUNT]
A language school is a private school where a foreign language is taught.sec|ond lan|guage (second languages)
[N-COUNT]
Someone's second language is a language which is not their native language but which they use at work or at school.
Lucy teaches English as a second language...sign lan|guage (sign languages)
[N-VAR]
Sign language is movements of your hands and arms used to communicate. There are several official systems of sign language, used for example by deaf people. Movements are also sometimes invented by people when they want to communicate with someone who does not speak the same language.
Her son used sign language to tell her what happened.