English
gesture
Pronunciation
  • IPA: /ˈd͡ʒest͡ʃə/, /ˈdʒɛs.tʃə(ɹ)/
  • (America) IPA: /ˈdʒɛs.tʃɚ/, /ˈdʒɛs.tʃɝ/
Noun

gesture (plural gestures)

  1. A motion of the limbs or body, especially one made to emphasize speech.
    The middle-finger gesture is really a nonverbal swear.
    This Web browser can be controlled with mouse gestures.
    • 1667, John Milton, “Book 7”, in Paradise Lost. A Poem Written in Ten Books, London: Printed [by Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […] [a]nd by Robert Boulter […] [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], OCLC 228722708 ↗; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: The Text Exactly Reproduced from the First Edition of 1667: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, OCLC 230729554 ↗:
      Grace was in all her steps, heaven in her eye, / In every gesture dignity and love.
  2. An act or a remark made as a formality or as a sign of attitude.
    We took flowers as a gesture of sympathy.
  3. (obsolete) The manner of carrying the body; position of the body or limbs; posture.
    • 1646, Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica
      Accubation, or lying down at meals, was a gesture used by very many nations.
Related terms Translations Translations Verb

gesture (gestures, present participle gesturing; past and past participle gestured)

  1. (intransitive) To make a gesture or gestures.
    My dad said to never gesture with my hands when I talk.
    Never gesture at someone with a middle finger.
  2. (transitive) To express something by a gesture or gestures.
    He gestured his disgust.
  3. (transitive) To accompany or illustrate with gesture or action.
    • It is not orderly read, nor gestured as beseemeth.
Synonyms Translations Translations

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