oral
1oral
adj \ˈȯr-əl, ˈär-\Definition of ORAL
1
a : uttered by the mouth or in words : spoken <oral traditions> b : using speech or the lips especially in teaching the deaf
2
a : of, given through, or involving the mouth <oral health> <an oral vaccine> b : being on or relating to the same surface as the mouth
3
a : of, relating to, or characterized by the first stage of psychosexual development in psychoanalytic theory during which libidinal gratification is derived from intake (as of food), by sucking, and later by biting b : of, relating to, or characterized by personality traits of passive dependency and aggressiveness
— oral·i·ty \ȯ-ˈra-lə-tē, ō-\ noun
— oral·ly \ˈȯr-ə-lē, ˈär-\ adverb
Examples of ORAL
- She practices good oral hygiene by brushing her teeth at least twice a day.
- As part of her oral examination, she had to recite the names of all the presidents.
Origin of ORAL
Latin or-, os mouth; akin to Old Norse ōss mouth of a river, Sanskrit ās mouth
First Known Use: 1628
Related to ORAL
Related Words: articulated, enunciated, pronounced, sonant; breathed, chirped, drawled, gasped, intoned, mouthed, mumbled, murmured, muttered, purred, shouted, spluttered, sputtered, squeaked, whispered
Other Anatomy Terms
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