lingual

adjective

lin·​gual ˈliŋ-gwəl 

also

ˈliŋ-gyə-wəl 

1

a

: of, relating to, or resembling the tongue

b

: lying near or next to the tongue

especially : relating to or being the surface of tooth next to the tongue

c

: produced by the tongue

2

: linguistic

lingually adverb

Examples of lingual in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

To see what else snakes might be up to with all that lingual action, these biologists recorded snake tongues with four high-speed video cameras and reconstructed a 3D model of the tongue in motion. —Seriously Science, Discover Magazine, 18 Nov. 2013

Initially, Hoffmann tries to use Kambazemi — an intelligent, multi-lingual Herero woman — as an example to disprove his professor’s racist evolutionary theories. —Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Mar. 2023

Nafeesah Allen Contributing Writer Nafeesah Allen, Ph.D. is a multi-lingual author, independent researcher, editor, and contributing writer for various national online publications. —Nafeesah Allen, House Beautiful, 8 Mar. 2023

Multi-lingual assistance is available. —Laura Groch, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Sep. 2022

Working with a multi-lingual cast and crew. —Alexandra Schonfeld, PEOPLE.com, 5 May 2022

This is coupled with the uniquely French flair in the form of luxury accommodations, service, multi-lingual crew and of course cuisine (think renowned Laduree macarons, the finest butter from Brittany and French wines). —Larry Olmsted, Forbes, 4 June 2022

The inventors of BrainPort have put this lingual sensitivity to use, developing a device that converts visual stimuli into small electrical bursts on the tongue. —Dana Smith, Discover Magazine, 28 Apr. 2014

The 1989 discovery of a Neanderthal hyoid, also known as the lingual bone, led to the suspicion that these species had the ability to speak. —Donna Sarkar, Discover Magazine, 25 Mar. 2021

Word History

Etymology

Latin lingua

First Known Use

1650, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing lingual

• audio-lingual

Kids Definition

lingual

adjective

lin·​gual ˈliŋ-g(yə-)wəl 

1

: of, relating to, or resembling a tongue

2

: produced by the tongue

lingual sounds such as \t\ or \l\

lingually

-ē

adverb

Medical Definition

lingual

adjective

lin·​gual ˈliŋ-g(yə-)wəl 

1

: of, relating to, or resembling the tongue

2

: lying near or next to the tongue

a lingual blood vessel

especially : relating to or being the surface of a tooth next to the tongue