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tongue

Definition

  • noun: the soft, movable part in the mouth that is used for tasting and eating food and in human beings for speaking
  • noun: a fleshy movable muscular process of the floor of the mouths of most vertebrates that bears sensory end organs and small glands and functions especially in taking and swallowing food and in humans as a speech organ
  • verb: to produce separate notes when you are blowing air through a musical instrument (such as a trumpet) by using your tongue to briefly stop the flow of air
  • verb: to touch or lick with or as if with the tongue
  • + 'of'
  • synonyms: expression, speech, language

Examples

  • I thought she was acting foolishly, but I 'bit my tongue' [='held my tongue'] and didn't say anything.

  • The news of their engagement 'set tongues wagging'. = 'Tongues were wagging' over their engagement.

  • He speaks English fluently but his 'mother tongue' [='native language, first language'] is Chinese.

Movie clips

Movie quotes

  • (..) "Your doom is near at hand. Isildur's Bane is found." Isildur's Bane. Boromir! Never before has any voice uttered the words of that tongue here in lmladris. I do not ask your pardon,Master Elrond... ...for the Black Speech of Mordor... ...may yet be heard... ...in every corner of the West! (..)
    2001 The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
  • (..) It's some form of Elvish. I can't read it. There are few who can. The language is that of Mordor,which I will not utter here. Mordor! In the common tongue,it says: ''One Ring to rule them all... ...One Ring to find them... ...One Ring to bring them all... ...and in the darkness bind them.'' (..)
    2001 The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring