verbal
Pronunciation
  • (RP) IPA: /ˈvɜː.bəl/, [ˈvɜː.bɫ̩], enPR: vûrʹ-bəl
  • (America) IPA: /ˈvɝ.bəl/, [ˈvɜ˞.bɫ̩], enPR: vûrʹ-bəl
Adjective

verbal (not comparable)

  1. Of or relating to words.
    Synonyms: wordish
  2. Concerned with the words, rather than the substance of a text.
  3. Consisting of words only.
    Antonyms: non-verbal, substantive
    • quote en
  4. Expressly spoken rather than written; oral.
    a verbal contract
    a verbal testimony
  5. (grammar) Derived from, or having the nature of a verb.
    Synonyms: rhematic
  6. (grammar) Used to form a verb.
  7. Capable of speech.
    Antonyms: preverbal
    • 2005, Avril V. Brereton, Bruce J. Tonge, Pre-schoolers with autism (page 55)
      quote en
  8. Word for word.
    Synonyms: literal, verbatim
    a verbal translation
  9. (obsolete) Abounding with words; verbose.
Synonyms
  • (of or relating to speech or words) lectic
Antonyms Related terms

Translations Translations
  • Portuguese: verbal
  • Russian: слове́сный
Translations Translations Translations
  • Portuguese: verbal
  • Russian: слове́сный
Translations
  • German: zeitwörtlich, verbal
  • Portuguese: verbal
  • Russian: глаго́льный
  • Spanish: verbal
Translations
  • Russian: глаго́льный
  • Spanish: verbal
Noun

verbal (plural verbals)

  1. (grammar) A verb form which does not function as a predicate, or a word derived from a verb. In English, infinitives, participles and gerunds are verbals.
    Synonyms: non-finite verb
  2. (UK, Ireland) A confession given to police.
Translations Verb

verbal (verbals, present participle verballing; past and past participle verballed)

  1. (transitive, British, Australia) To induce into fabricating a confession.
    • 1982, John A. Andrews, Human Rights in Criminal Procedure: A Comparative Study, ISBN 9024725526, BRILL, page 128:
      "The problem of 'verballing' is unlikely to disappear, whatever the legal status of the person detained."
    • 2001, Chris Cunneen, Conflict, Politics and Crime: Aboriginal Communities and the Police, ISBN 1864487194, Allen & Unwin, page 116:
      "Condren had always claimed that he was assaulted and verballed by police over the murder he had supposedly confessed to committing."
    • 2004, Jeremy Gans & Andrew Palmer, Australian Principles of Evidence, ISBN 1876905123, Routledge Cavendish, page 504:
      "Moreover, given the risk of verballing, it is by no means apparent that it is in the interests of justice that the prosecution have the benefit of admissions that are made on occasions when recordings are impracticable."



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