Definition of oral
1a : uttered by the mouth or in words : spoken oral traditionsb : using speech or the lips especially in teaching the deaf
2a : of, given through, or involving the mouth oral health an oral vaccineb : being on or relating to the same surface as the mouth
3a : 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 bitingb : of, relating to, or characterized by personality traits of passive dependency and aggressiveness
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Examples of oral in a Sentence
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 and Etymology of oral
Latin or-, os mouth; akin to Old Norse ōss mouth of a river, Sanskrit ās mouth
First Known Use: 1597
Other Anatomy Terms
oral
Definition of oral
: an oral examination —usually used in plural
1876
First Known Use of oral
1876
Other Education Terms
ORAL Defined for English Language Learners
oral
playDefinition of oral for English Language Learners
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: of or relating to the mouth
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—used to describe a medicine that you eat or swallow
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: spoken rather than written
oral
Definition of oral for English Language Learners
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: a test in which you answer questions by speaking rather than by writing : an oral examination
ORAL Defined for Kids
Medical Dictionary
oral
playMedical Definition of oral
1a: of, relating to, or involving the mouth : buccal the oral mucous membraneb: given or taken through or by way of the mouth an oral vaccine an oral suspension of a drugc: acting on the mouth oral diseases
2: emphasizing lipreading and the development of vocal expression in teaching the deaf—compare manual 2
3a: 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 bitingb: of, relating to, or characterized by personality traits of passive dependence and aggressiveness—compare anal 2, genital 3, phallic 2
orally
adverbLearn More about oral
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for oral Spanish Central: Translation of oral Nglish: Translation of oral for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of oral for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about oral
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