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

1. She practices good oral hygiene by brushing her teeth at least twice a day.
2. 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

Synonyms: vocal, spoken, uttered, voiced

Antonyms: nonvocal

Related Words: articulated, enunciated, pronounced, sonant; breathed, chirped, drawled, gasped, intoned, mouthed, mumbled, murmured, muttered, purred, shouted, spluttered, sputtered, squeaked, whispered

Near Antonyms: inarticulate; mute, quiet, silent; unexpressed, unsaid, unspoken, unuttered, unvoiced; surd, voiceless

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Other Anatomy Terms

bilateral symmetry, carotid, cartilage, dorsal, entrails, prehensile, renal, solar plexus, supine, thoracic, ventral

Rhymes with ORAL

aural, chloral, choral, coral, floral, laurel, moral, quarrel, sorrel