adj. & n.
--adj.
1. by word of mouth; spoken; not written (the oral tradition).
2 done or taken by the mouth (oral contraceptive).
3 of the mouth.
4 Psychol. of or concerning a supposed stage of infant emotional and sexual development, in which the mouth is of central interest.
--n. colloq. a spoken examination, test, etc.
Phrases and idioms:
oral sex sexual activity in which the genitals of one partner are stimulated by the mouth of the other. oral society a society that has not reached the stage of literacy.
Derivatives:
orally adv.
Etymology: LL oralis f. L os oris mouth