an examination in which the questions and answers are spoken rather than written
Derived forms
orally (ˈorally)
adverb
Word origin
C17: from Late Latin orālis, from Latin ōs face
oral in American English
(ˈɔrəl)
adjective
1.
uttered by the mouth; spoken
2.
of speech; using speech
3.
of, involving, or administered through the mouth
4.
of or having to do with sexual stimulation of the genitals by the mouth or tongue
5. Phonetics
having mouth resonance only
see also nasal
6. Psychoanalysis
a.
designating or of the earliest stage of psychosexual development, in which interest centers around sucking, feeding, and biting
b.
designating or of such traits in the adult as friendliness, generosity, and optimism or aggressiveness and pessimism, regarded as unconscious psychic residues of that stage
see also anal1, genital
7. Zoology
on or of the same side as the mouth
noun US
8.
an examination with spoken questions and answers, as at a college
often used in pl.
SYNONYMY NOTE: oral refers to that which is spoken, as distinguished from that which is written or otherwisecommunicated [an oral promise, request, etc.]; verbal, though sometimes synonymous with , oral, in strict discrimination refers to anything using words, either written or oral,to communicate an idea or feeling [a verbal image, caricature, etc.]
Derived forms
orally (ˈorally)
adverb
Word origin
< L os (gen. oris), the mouth < IE base *ōus-, mouth, edge > Sans -ḥ, mouth, ON ōss, mouth of a stream
oral in the Pharmaceutical Industry
(ɔrəl)
adjective
(Pharmaceutical: Administration)
Oral means within or into the mouth.
COLLOCATIONS: ~ administration~ spray~ applicator~ drug delivery system
In an oral allergy to a food, allergic reactions take place in the mouth.
An oral medication is chewed, swallowed, or placed under the tongue.
Oral means within or into the mouth.
oral gel
Examples of 'oral' in a sentence
oral
This is what you get when governments treat oral health as an optional extra.
The Sun (2016)
Experts blame high amounts of sugar in food and drink as well as poor oral hygiene.
The Sun (2017)
With oral contraceptives it was when they were with a partner.
The Sun (2016)
The guidance says care homes should assess the oral health needs of residents and record them in personal care plans.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Work snack warning Eating biscuits and cakes at work is contributing to the obesity epidemic and poor oral health, dentists have said.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
What does this suggest about his oral language skills?
Goshgarian, Gary Exploring language (6th edn) (1995)
It has been reported that only an oral agreement existed.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The pair refused to give oral evidence.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
This is an oral culture as much as a written one.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Yet poor oral hygiene is linked to an increased risk of heart disease.
The Sun (2012)
Poor oral health during childhood increases the risk for poor nutrition and other health problems.
McKenzie, James F. & Pinger, Robert R. An Introduction to Community Health (1995)
Oral contraceptives became available in the beginning of the sixties.
Bethune, Helen Positive Parent Power (1991)
Oral language is a much more global language than that of the universities or church declarations.
Christianity Today (2000)
If you have an oral agreement then it is valid until the end.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The judge had to decide how much oral evidence to allow at a future hearing.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Before that we had only an oral culture.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
We deal with decay and oral hygiene.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Other options available to the creditor include oral examination to see whether it is worthwhile trying to enforce the judgement.
Tondeur, Keith Say Goodbye to Debt (1994)
If it persists, an oral antibiotic may be needed.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
In other languages
oral
British English: oral /ˈɔːrəl; ˈɒrəl/ ADJECTIVE
Oral is used to describe things that involve speaking rather than writing.
...an oral exam in the form of an interview.
American English: oral
Arabic: شَفَهِيٌّ
Brazilian Portuguese: oral
Chinese: 口头的
Croatian: usmen
Czech: ústní
Danish: mundtlig
Dutch: mondeling
European Spanish: oral
Finnish: suullinen
French: oral
German: mündlich
Greek: προφορικός
Italian: orale
Japanese: 口頭の
Korean: 구두의
Norwegian: muntlig
Polish: ustny
European Portuguese: oral
Romanian: oral
Russian: устный
Latin American Spanish: oral
Swedish: muntlig
Thai: ที่ใช้การพูด
Turkish: sözlü
Ukrainian: усний
Vietnamese: bằng lời nói
British English: oral /ˈɔːrəl; ˈɒrəl/ NOUN
An oral is an examination, especially in a foreign language, that is spoken rather than written.
American English: oral
Arabic: إِمْتِحان شَفَهِيّ
Brazilian Portuguese: exame oral
Chinese: 口试
Croatian: usmeni ispit
Czech: ústní zkouška
Danish: mundtlig eksamen
Dutch: mondeling
European Spanish: oral
Finnish: suullinen koe
French: oral
German: mündliche Prüfung
Greek: προφορική εξέταση
Italian: orale
Japanese: 口頭試験
Korean: 구술시험
Norwegian: muntlig eksamen
Polish: egzamin ustny
European Portuguese: exame oral
Romanian: examen oral
Russian: устный экзамен
Latin American Spanish: oral
Swedish: munta
Thai: การสอบปากเปล่า
Turkish: sözlü
Ukrainian: усний іспит
Vietnamese: kỳ thi vấn đáp
Chinese translation of 'oral'
oral
(ˈɔːrəl)
adj
(= spoken)[test, report]口头(頭)的 (kǒutóu de)
[vaccine, medicine, contraceptive]口服的 (kǒufú de)
n(c)
(= spoken examination) 口试(試) (kǒushì) (次, cì)
oral sex口交 (kǒujiāo)
(adjective)
Definition
spoken or verbal
All students have to take a written and oral examination.
Synonyms
spoken
written and spoken communication skills
vocal
a child's ability to imitate rhythms and vocal sounds
verbal
unwritten
the unwritten stories of his infancy and childhood
viva voce
Additional synonyms
in the sense of unwritten
Definition
not printed or in writing
the unwritten stories of his infancy and childhood
Synonyms
oral,
word-of-mouth,
unrecorded,
vocal
in the sense of verbal
Definition
spoken rather than written
Synonyms
spoken,
oral,
word-of-mouth,
unwritten
in the sense of vocal
Definition
of or relating to the voice
a child's ability to imitate rhythms and vocal sounds