I. ˈȯr-əl, ˈär- adjective
Etymology: Latin or-, os mouth; akin to Old Norse ōss mouth of a river, Sanskrit ās mouth
Date: 1628
1.
a. : uttered by the mouth or in words : spoken
oral traditions
b. : using speech or the lips especially in teaching the deaf
2.
a. : of, given through, or involving the mouth
oral health
an oral vaccine
b. : being on or relating to the same surface as the mouth
3.
a. : of, relating to, or characterized by the first stage of psychosexual development in psychoanalytic theory during which libidinal gratification is derived from intake (as of food), by sucking, and later by biting
b. : of, relating to, or characterized by personality traits of passive dependency and aggressiveness
• oral·i·ty ȯ-ˈra-lə-tē, ō- noun
• oral·ly ˈȯr-ə-lē, ˈär- adverb
II. noun
Date: 1876
: an oral examination — usually used in plural