(~s)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
A ~ 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 ~...
Students are expected to master a second ~...
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2.
Language is the use of a system of communication which consists of a set of sounds or written symbols.
Students examined how children acquire ~...
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3.
You can refer to the words used in connection with a particular subject as the ~ of that subject.
...the ~ of business.
N-UNCOUNT: the N of n, supp N
4.
You can refer to someone’s use of rude words or swearing as bad ~ when you find it offensive.
Television companies tend to censor bad ~ in feature films...
There’s a girl gonna be in the club, so you guys watch your ~.
N-UNCOUNT: adj N, poss N
5.
The ~ of a piece of writing or speech is the style in which it is written or spoken.
...a booklet summarising it in plain ~...
The tone of his ~ was diplomatic and polite...
N-UNCOUNT: with supp
6.
You can use ~ to refer to various means of communication involving recognizable symbols, non-verbal sounds, or actions.
Some sign ~s are very sophisticated means of communication.
...the digital ~ of computers.
N-VAR: supp N, N of n