/ wɜːd; NAmE wɜːrd/ noun , verb , exclamation
■ noun
UNIT OF LANGUAGE
1.
[ C ] a single unit of language which means sth and can be spoken or written :
Do not write more than 200 words.
Do you know the words to this song?
What's the Spanish word for 'table'?
He was a true friend in all senses of the word .
Tell me what happened in your own words .
I could hear every word they were saying.
He couldn't find the words to thank her enough.
Words fail me (= I cannot express how I feel) .
There are no words to say how sorry we are.
I can't remember her exact words.
Angry is not the word for it —I was furious.
—see also buzzword , four-letter word , household word , swear word
STH YOU SAY
2.
[ C ] a thing that you say; a remark or statement :
Have a word with Pat and see what she thinks.
Could I have a quick word with you (= speak to you quickly) ?
A word of warning : read the instructions very carefully.
words of love
She left without a word (= without saying anything) .
I don't believe a word of his story (= I don't believe any of it) .
a man of few words (= who doesn't talk very much)
I'd like to say a few words about future plans.
Remember— not a word to (= don't tell) Peter about any of this.
He never breathed a word of this to me.
PROMISE
3.
[ sing. ] a promise or guarantee that you will do sth or that sth will happen or is true :
I give you my word that this won't happen again.
I give you my word of honour (= my sincere promise) ...
We never doubted her word.
We only have his word for it that the cheque is in the post.
to keep your word (= do what you promised)
He promised to help and was as good as his word (= did what he promised) .
He's a man of his word (= he does what he promises) .
I trusted her not to go back on her word (= break her promise) .
I can't prove it—you'll have to take my word for it (= believe me) .
INFORMATION / NEWS
4.
[ sing. ] a piece of information or news :
There's been no word from them since before Christmas.
She sent word that she would be late.
If word gets out about the affair, he will have to resign.
Word has it that she's leaving.
The word is they've split up.
He likes to spread the word about the importance of healthy eating.
BIBLE
5.
the Word (also the ˌWord of ˈGod ) [ sing. ] the Bible and its teachings
•
IDIOMS
- by word of mouth
- (right) from the word go
- (not) get a word in edgeways
- have a word in sb's ear
- have / exchange words (with sb) (about sth)
- in other words
- (not) in so / as many words
- in a word
- in words of one syllable
- the last / final word (on sth)
- (upon) my word
- not have a good word to say for sb/sth
- put in a (good) word for sb
- put words into sb's mouth
- say / give the word
- take sb at their word
- take the words right out of sb's mouth
- too funny, silly, ridiculous, etc. for words
- word for word
- sb's word is their bond
- words to that effect
—more at action noun , bandy verb , dirty adjective , eat , famous , hang verb , last determiner , lost adjective , mince verb , mum adjective , operative adjective , play noun , print verb , war noun , weigh , written
■ verb
[ vn ] [ often passive ] to write or say sth using particular words :
How was the letter worded (= what did it say exactly) ?
► word·ed adjective :
a carefully worded speech
a strongly worded letter of protest
■ word! exclamation
( NAmE ) used to show that you accept or agree with what sb has just said
••
SYNONYMS
word
term ♦ phrase ♦ expression ♦ idiom
These are all words for a unit of language used to express sth.
word
a single unit of language which means sth and can be spoken or written:
Do not write more than 200 words.
•
He uses a lot of long words.
term
( rather formal ) a word or phrase used as the name of sth, especially one connected with a particular type of language:
technical / legal / scientific terms
•
'Old man' is a slang term for 'father'.
phrase
a group of words which have a particular meaning when used together:
Who coined the phrase 'desktop publishing?'
NOTE
In grammar, a phrase is a group of words without a finite verb, especially one that forms part of a sentence: 'the green car' and 'on Friday morning' are phrases.
expression
a word or phrase:
He tends to use a lot of slang expressions that I've never heard before.
idiom
a group of words whose meaning is different from the meanings of the individual words:
'Let the cat out of the bag' is an idiom meaning to tell a secret by mistake.
PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS :
a new word / term / phrase / expression / idiom
a(n) technical / colloquial / idiomatic / slang word / term / phrase / expression
to use a(n) word / term / phrase / expression / idiom
to coin a(n) word / term / phrase / expression
a(n) word / term / phrase / expression / idiom means sth
a word / term for sth
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch woord and German Wort , from an Indo-European root shared by Latin verbum word.