■ noun
1》 a single distinct meaningful element of speech or writing, used to form sentences with others.
2》 a remark or statement.
↘[with negative ] ( a ~ ) even the smallest amount of something spoken or written: don't believe a ~.
↘( ~s ) angry talk.
↘speech as distinct from action.
↘communication; news.
3》 ( the ~ ) a command, slogan, or signal.
4》 ( one's ~ ) a person's account of the truth, especially when it differs from that of another person.
↘a promise or assurance.
5》 ( ~s ) the text of a play, opera, or other performed piece.
6》 a basic unit of data in a computer, typically 16 or 32 bits long.
■ verb
1》 express in particular ~s.
2》 ( ~ up ) [as imperative ] black English listen.
Phrases
at a ~ as soon as requested.
be as good as one's ~ do what one has promised.
have a ~ speak briefly to someone.
have a ~ in someone's ear Brit. speak to someone privately and discreetly.
in other ~s that is to say.
in so many ~s [often with negative ] precisely in the way mentioned.
in a ~ briefly.
a man (or woman ) of his (or her) ~ a person who keeps their promises.
on (or upon ) my ~ an exclamation of surprise or emphasis.
put ~s into someone's mouth
1》 inaccurately report what someone has said.
2》 prompt someone to say something inadvertently.
take someone at their ~ interpret a person's ~s literally.
take the ~s out of someone's mouth say what someone else was about to say.
take someone's ~ ( for it ) believe what someone says or writes without checking for oneself.
too —— for ~s informal extremely ——.
waste ~s talk in vain.
the Word ( of God )
1》 the Bible, or a part of it.
2》 Jesus Christ (see Logos ).
~ for ~ in exactly the same or, when translated, exactly equivalent ~s.
~ of honour a solemn promise.
~ of mouth spoken communication as a means of transmitting information.
the ~ on the street informal a current rumour or piece of information.
a ~ to the wise a hint or brief explanation given, that being all that is required.
Derivatives
~age noun
~less adjective
~lessly adverb
~lessness noun
Origin
OE, of Gmc origin.