• (RP) IPA: /wɜːd/
• (GA) enPR: wûrd, IPA: /wɝd/

word

1. The smallest unit of language that has a particular meaning and can be expressed by itself; the smallest discrete, meaningful unit of language. (contrast morpheme.)
   1. The smallest discrete unit of spoken language with a particular meaning, composed of one or more phonemes and one or more morphemes
   2. The smallest discrete unit of written language with a particular meaning, composed of one or more letters or symbols and one or more morphemes
      • c. 1599–1602, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals):

        , act 2, scene 2:

        Polonius: What do you read, my lord?

        Hamlet: Words, words, words.

   3. A discrete, meaningful unit of language approved by an authority or native speaker (compare non-word).
2. Something like such a unit of language:
   1. A sequence of letters, characters, or sounds, considered as a discrete entity, though it does not necessarily belong to a language or have a meaning
   2. (telegraphy) A unit of text equivalent to five characters and one space. [from 19th c.]
   3. (computing) A fixed-size group of bits handled as a unit by a machine and which can be stored in or retrieved from a typical register (so that it has the same size as such a register). [from 20th c.]
   4. (computer science) A finite string that is not a command or operator. [from 20th or 21st c.]
   5. (group theory) A group element, expressed as a product of group elements.
3. The fact or act of speaking, as opposed to taking action. [from 9th c].
4. (now, rare outside certain phrases) Something that someone said; a comment, utterance; speech. [from 10th c.]
   • 1611, Bible, Authorized Version, Gospel of Matthew XXVI.75:

     And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

5. (obsolete outside certain phrases) A watchword or rallying cry, a verbal signal (even when consisting of multiple words).

   mum's the word

6. (obsolete) A proverb or motto.
7. News; tidings (used without an article). [from 10th c.]
   • 1945 August 17, George Orwell [pseudonym; Eric Arthur Blair], chapter 1, in Animal Farm: A Fairy Story, London: Secker & Warburg, OCLC 3655473 ↗:

     Word had gone round during the day that old Major, the prize Middle White boar, had had a strange dream on the previous night and wished to communicate it to the other animals.

   Have you had any word from John yet?
8. An order; a request or instruction; an expression of will. [from 10th c.]

   He sent word that we should strike camp before winter.

   Don't fire till I give the word

   Their mother's word was law.

9. A promise; an oath or guarantee. [from 10th c.]

   I give you my word that I will be there on time.

   Synonyms: promise

10. A brief discussion or conversation. [from 15th c.]

    Can I have a word with you?

11. (in the plural) See words.

    There had been words between him and the secretary about the outcome of the meeting.

12. (theology, sometimes Word) Communication from God; the message of the Christian gospel; the Bible, Scripture. [from 10th c.]

    Her parents had lived in Botswana, spreading the word among the tribespeople.

    Synonyms: word of God, Bible

13. (theology, sometimes Word) Logos, Christ. [from 8th c.]
    • 1526, William Tyndale, trans. Bible, First Epistle of John:

      And that worde was made flesshe, and dwelt amonge vs, and we sawe the glory off yt, as the glory off the only begotten sonne off the father, which worde was full of grace, and verite.

    Synonyms: God, Logos

• vocable; see also Thesaurus:word

• French: mot
• German: Wort
• Italian: parola, vocabolo, termine
• Portuguese: palavra, vocábulo
• Russian: сло́во
• Spanish: palabra, vocablo

• Russian: сло́во

• French: mot
• Italian: word
• Portuguese: palavra
• Russian: сло́во
• Spanish: palabra

• Russian: сло́во

• Russian: сло́во

• French: parole
• German: Wort
• Russian: речь

• Portuguese: notícias
• Russian: весть

• Russian: сло́во

• French: parole
• German: Ehrenwort
• Italian: parola
• Portuguese: palavra, promessa
• Russian: сло́во
• Spanish: palabra

• Portuguese: palavra
• Russian: разгово́р

• Russian: перебра́нка

• French: Verbe, verbe

• French: parole
• German: Wort
• Italian: parola, verbo
• Portuguese: verbo, palavra, palavra do Senhor, palavra divina, palavra de Deus

word (words, present participle wording; past and past participle worded)

1. (transitive) To say or write (something) using particular words; to phrase (something).

   I’m not sure how to word this letter to the council.

   Synonyms: express, phrase, put into words, state

2. (transitive, obsolete) To flatter with words, to cajole.
3. (transitive) To ply or overpower with words.
4. (transitive, rare) To conjure with a word.
   • circa 1645–1715 Robert South, Sermon on Psalm XXXIX. 9:

     Against him [...] who could word heaven and earth out of nothing, and can when he pleases word them into nothing again.

5. (intransitive, archaic) To speak, to use words; to converse, to discourse.
   • 1818–1819, John Keats, “Hyperion, a Fragment”, in Lamia, Isabella, the Eve of St. Agnes, and Other Poems, London: Printed [by Thomas Davison] for Taylor and Hessey, […], published 1820, OCLC 927360557 ↗, page 181 ↗:

     Thus wording timidly among the fierce: / "O Father, I am here the simplest voice, [...]"

• French: formuler
• Portuguese: frasear
• Russian: формули́ровать
• Spanish: redactar

1. (slang, AAVE) Truth, indeed, that is the truth! The shortened form of the statement "My word is my bond."

   "Yo, that movie was epic!" / "Word?" ("You speak the truth?") / "Word." ("I speak the truth.")

2. (slang, emphatic, stereotypically, AAVE) An abbreviated form of word up; a statement of the acknowledgment of fact with a hint of nonchalant approval.

1. Alternative form of worth#English|worth (“to become”).

• (America) IPA: /wɝd/
• (RP) IPA: /wɜːd/

word (uncountable)

1. Scripture; The Bible.
2. The creative word of God; logos.
   • John 1.1 ↗

     In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

• Spanish: Verbo

• French: Parole, Verbe
• German: Wort
• Italian: Verbo
• Spanish: Verbo

1. (software) Microsoft Word, a word processor software developed by Microsoft.

   You have to type that up in Word.