/ ˈɔːrəl; NAmE / adjective , noun
■ adjective
1.
[ usually before noun ] spoken rather than written :
a test of both oral and written French
oral evidence
He was interested in oral history (= history that is collected from interviews with people who have personal knowledge of past events).
—compare verbal ➡ note at spoken
2.
[ only before noun ] connected with the mouth :
oral hygiene
oral sex (= using the mouth to stimulate sb's sex organs)
3.
( phonetics ) ( of a speech sound ) produced without the air in the nose vibrating
—compare nasal
► or·al·ly / ˈɔːrəli; NAmE / adverb :
Answers can be written or presented orally on tape.
not to be taken orally (= a warning on some medicines to show that they must not be swallowed)
■ noun
1.
( especially BrE ) a spoken exam, especially in a foreign language :
a French oral
He failed the oral.
2.
( NAmE ) a spoken exam in a university
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WORD ORIGIN
early 17th cent.: from late Latin oralis , from Latin os , or- mouth.