adj., n., & v.
--adj.
1. of or concerned with words (made a verbal distinction).
2 oral, not written (gave a verbal statement).
3 Gram. of or in the nature of a verb (verbal inflections).
4 literal (a verbal translation).
5 talkative, articulate.
--n.
1. Gram. a a verbal noun. b a word or words functioning as a verb.
2 sl. a verbal statement, esp. one made to the police.
3 sl. an insult; abuse (gave them the verbal).
--v.tr. (verballed, verballing) Brit. sl. attribute a damaging statement to (a suspect).
Phrases and idioms:
verbal noun Gram. a noun formed as an inflection of a verb and partly sharing its constructions (e.g. smoking in smoking is forbidden: see -ING(1)).
Derivatives:
verbally adv.
Etymology: ME f. F verbal or LL verbalis (as VERB)