A language is a system of communication which consists of a set of sounds and written symbols which are used by the peopleof a particular country or region for talking or writing.
...the English language.
Students are expected to master a second language.
Holidays are for seeing the sights, hearing the language and savouring the smells.
Synonyms: tongue, speech, vocabulary, dialect More Synonyms of language
2. uncountable noun
Language is the use of a system of communication which consists of a set of sounds or writtensymbols.
Students examined how children acquire language.
Language is not art but both are forms of human behavior.
Synonyms: speech, communication, expression, speaking More Synonyms of language
3. uncountable noun
You can refer to the words used in connection with a particular subject as thelanguageof that subject.
...the language of business. [+ of]
Synonyms: vocabulary, tongue, jargon, terminology More Synonyms of language
4. uncountable noun [adjective NOUN]
You can refer to someone's use of rude words or swearing as bad language when you find it offensive.
Television companies tend to censor bad language in feature films.
There's a girl gonna be in the club, so you guys watch your language.
5. uncountable noun
The language of a piece of writing or speech is the style in which it is written or spoken.
...a booklet summarising it in plain language.
The tone of his language was diplomatic and polite.
Mr Harris has not been afraid to use language that many in his party despise.
Synonyms: style, wording, expression, phrasing More Synonyms of language
6. variable noun
You can use language to refer to various means of communication involving recognizable symbols, non-verbalsounds, or actions.
Some sign languages are very sophisticated means of communication.
...the digital language of computers. [+ of]
language in British English
(ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ)
noun
1.
a system for the expression of thoughts, feelings, etc, by the use of spoken sounds or conventional symbols
2.
the faculty for the use of such systems, which is a distinguishing characteristic of humans as compared with other animals
3.
the language of a particular nation or people
the French language
4.
any other systematic or nonsystematic means of communicating, such as gesture or animal sounds
the language of love
5.
the specialized vocabulary used by a particular group
medical language
6.
a particular manner or style of verbal expression
your language is disgusting
7. computing programming language
8. speak the same language
Word origin
C13: from Old French langage, ultimately from Latin lingua tongue
language in American English
(ˈlæŋgwɪdʒ)
noun
1.
a.
human speech
b. Archaic
the ability to communicate by this means
c.
a system of vocal sounds and combinations of such sounds to which meaning is attributed, used for the expression or communication of thoughts and feelings
d.
the written representation of such a system
2.
a.
any means of expressing or communicating, as gestures, signs, or animal sounds
body language
b.
a special set of symbols, letters, numerals, rules, etc. used for the transmission of information, as in a computer
3.
all the vocal sounds, words, and ways of combining them common to a particular nation, tribe, or other speech community
the French language
4.
the particular form or manner of selecting and combining words characteristic of a person, group, or profession; form or style of expression in words
the language of teenagers
5.
the study of language in general or of some particular language or languages; linguistics
6. Informal
coarse or obscene words and expressions
Idioms:
speak the same (or someone's) language
Word origin
ME < OFr langage < langue, tongue < L lingua, tongue, language, altered (by assoc. with lingere, to lick) < OL dingua < IE *dṇhwa > OE tunge, tongue
COBUILD Collocations
language
ancient languages
common language
different languages
foul language
minority languages
musical language
offensive language
universal language
visual language
Examples of 'language' in a sentence
language
The snob uses language to look down on the rest of the world.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
English language tests were toughened last year for newly arriving nurses.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
We think umpires should stick to sign language.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
She showed no signs of inferiority and used body language to confirm agreement.
The Sun (2017)
Winner of the Oscar for best foreign language film.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He quickly mastered the language and then worked for the Japanese civilian police as an interpreter.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This isn’t the usual case of IT being told off for not talking business language.
Computing (2010)
English is one of the business languages and business transaction processes are no different to those in the UK.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I don't think using language changes people 's behaviour.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They are able to use language and are known to be skilled mimics.
The Times Literary Supplement (2010)
His idiosyncratic style fathered no new language of art in this country.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Consider the particular language he chose here.
Goshgarian, Gary Exploring language (6th edn) (1995)
They are then able to sell themselves using business language.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
She would ask who had thought up grammar as a means of structuring language.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Learning to speak the language of that country made perfect sense.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Which language is acquired depends on the environment.
Salkie, Raphael The Chomsky Update - Linguistics and Politics (1990)
We are well trained in language that moves people to buy and join and vote.
Christianity Today (2000)
Using bad or offensive language may mean you are ignored.
The Sun (2014)
Learning any foreign language is a formidable intellectual exercise and valuable training for any young mind.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
To make people laugh in a second language requires an enormous amount of intelligence and skill.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
You had rather have to master the dead language than the live tongues?
Charlotte M. Yonge The Daisy Chain (1837)
The committee decided he was guilty of the lesser charge of using offensive gestures and language.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Yet the film is vague about the science and philosophy involved in teaching a chimp sign language.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Does biased language refer to individuals or to groups of people?
Goshgarian, Gary Exploring language (6th edn) (1995)
Each one is using language as a means of performing a role.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
He shows a profound knowledge of the country and its language.
The Times Literary Supplement (2014)
The cold war had its own painfully acquired language and rhythm.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
They should use the language of business to explain the pros and cons to their organisation and what it all means.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
We talked in particular about language.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Does English no longer have a faculty of religious language?
Adam Nicolson GOD'S SECRETARIES: The Making of the King James Bible (2003)
But it definitely would be an interesting challenge to make an international English language project.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Quotations
Language is the dress of thoughtSamuel JohnsonLives of the English Poets: Cowley
After all, when you come right down to it, how many people speak the same language even when they speak the same language?Russell HobanThe Lion of Boaz-Jachin and Jachin-Boaz
Languages are the pedigrees of nationsSamuel Johnson
We've come intil a gey queer time Whan scrievin Scots is near a crime "There's no-one speaks like that", they fleer But wha the deil spoke like King Lear?Sydney Goodsir SmithEpistle to John Guthrie
A language is a dialect with an army and a navyMax Weinrich
One does not inhabit a country; one inhabits a language. That is our country, our fatherland - and no otherE.M. CioranAnathemas and Admirations
Everything can change, but not the language that we carry inside us, like a world more exclusive and final than one's mother's wombItalo CalvinoBy Way of an Autobiography
To God I speak Spanish, to women Italian, to men French, and to my horse - Germanattributed to Emperor Charles V
In language, the ignorant have prescribed laws to the learnedRichard DuppaMaxims
Language is fossil poetryRalph Waldo EmersonEssays: Nominalist and Realist
Political language... is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure windGeorge OrwellShooting an Elephant
In other languages
language
British English: language /ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ/ NOUN
A language is a system of sounds and written symbols used by the people of a particular country, area, or tribe to communicate with each other.
...a foreign language.
American English: language
Arabic: لُغَةٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: língua
Chinese: 语言
Croatian: jezik
Czech: jazyk řeč
Danish: sprog
Dutch: taal
European Spanish: idioma
Finnish: kieli puhuttu
French: langue langage
German: Sprache
Greek: γλώσσα ομιλία
Italian: linguaggio
Japanese: 言葉
Korean: 언어
Norwegian: språk
Polish: język mowa
European Portuguese: língua
Romanian: limbă
Russian: язык система звуков и букв
Latin American Spanish: lenguaje
Swedish: språk
Thai: ภาษา
Turkish: dil lisan
Ukrainian: мова
Vietnamese: ngôn ngữ
All related terms of 'language'
body language
Your body language is the way in which you show your feelings or thoughts to other people by means of the position or movements of your body, rather than with words.
foul language
A language is a system of communication which consists of a set of sounds and written symbols which are used by the people of a particular country or region for talking or writing .
language arts
the subjects taught in elementary and secondary schools for improving oral and written communication
sign language
Sign language is movements of your hands and arms used to communicate . There are several official systems of sign language, used for example by deaf people. Movements are also sometimes invented by people when they want to communicate with someone who does not speak the same language.
tone language
a language, such as Chinese or certain African languages, in which differences in tone may make differences in meaning
common language
A language is a system of communication which consists of a set of sounds and written symbols which are used by the people of a particular country or region for talking or writing .
first language
Someone's first language is the language that they learned first and speak best ; used especially when someone speaks more than one language.
formal language
a language designed for use in situations in which natural language is unsuitable , as for example in mathematics , logic , or computer programming. The symbols and formulas of such languages stand in precisely specified syntactic and semantic relations to one another
language school
A language school is a private school where a foreign language is taught .
language skills
the ability to use language
mixed language
any language containing items of vocabulary or other linguistic characteristics borrowed from two or more existing languages
modern language
any of the languages spoken in present-day Europe, with the exception of English
native language
the language of the country that someone is born in or native to
object language
a language described by or being investigated by another language
plain language
language that is clear and easy to understand , with no ambiguity or unnecessarily difficult words
query language
the instructions and procedures used to retrieve information from a database
relay language
a language, usually an internationally dominant one, which acts as a medium to translate other usually little-spoken languages
second language
Someone's second language is a language which is not their native language but which they use at work or at school.
source language
a language from which a translation is made
target language
the language into which a text , document , etc, is translated
visual language
A language is a system of communication which consists of a set of sounds and written symbols which are used by the people of a particular country or region for talking or writing.
world language
a language spoken and known in many countries, such as English
assembly language
a low-level programming language that allows a programmer complete control of the machine code to be generated
command language
the language used to access a computer system
community language
a language spoken by members of a minority group or community within a majority language context
computer language
a simple language system designed to facilitate the writing of computer programs
heritage language
a language other than French, English, or an aboriginal language, esp as part of a school or extracurricular programme designed for, but not restricted to, the children of immigrants speaking the language
inclusive language
language that avoids the use of certain expressions or words that might be considered to exclude particular groups of people, esp gender-specific words, such as "man", " mankind ", and masculine pronouns , the use of which might be considered to exclude women
language barrier
absence of communication between people who speak different languages
machine language
a computer language, entirely in binary digits representing instructions and information, used directly by a computer without translation
musical language
A language is a system of communication which consists of a set of sounds and written symbols which are used by the people of a particular country or region for talking or writing .
natural language
a language that has evolved naturally as a means of communication among people
offensive language
A language is a system of communication which consists of a set of sounds and written symbols which are used by the people of a particular country or region for talking or writing.
private language
a language that is not merely secret or accidentally limited to one user , but that cannot in principle be communicated to another
symbolic language
a specialized language dependent upon the use of symbols for communication and created for the purpose of achieving greater exactitude, as in symbolic logic or mathematics
universal language
A language is a system of communication which consists of a set of sounds and written symbols which are used by the people of a particular country or region for talking or writing .
agglutinating language
a language, such as Hungarian , in which words are built up from component morphemes in such a way that these undergo little or no change of form or meaning in the process of combination
artificial language
an invented language, esp one intended as an international medium of communication or for use with computers
constructed language
a language whose rules and vocabulary have been artificially invented
language development
the development verbal communication skills in children
language laboratory
A language laboratory is a classroom equipped with tape recorders or computers where people can practise listening to and talking foreign languages.
low-level language
a computer programming language that is closer to machine language than to human language
programming language
a simple language system designed to facilitate the writing of computer programs
British Sign Language
the main sign language used by deaf people in the United Kingdom
high-level language
a computer programming language that resembles natural language or mathematical notation and is designed to reflect the requirements of a problem; examples include Ada , BASIC , C, COBOL , FORTRAN , Pascal
job control language
a programming language that is used to control the execution of jobs
American sign language
a language consisting of manual signs and gestures , used as by deaf people in North America
metalanguage
In linguistics , the words and expressions that people use to describe or refer to language can be called metalanguage .
English Language Teaching
the practice and theory of learning and teaching English for the benefit of people whose first language is not English
hypertext markup language
hypertext markup language: a text description language that is used for electronic publishing , esp on the internet
以礼(禮)貌的语(語)言/法律措辞(辭)表达(達) yǐ lǐmào de yǔyán/fǎlǜ cuòcí biǎodá
TOEFL
Test of English as a Foreign Language 托福 Tuōfú
1 (noun)
Definition
the language of a particular nation or people
the English language
Synonyms
tongue
They feel passionately about their native tongue.
speech
the way common letter clusters are pronounced in speech
vocabulary
dialect
the number of Italians who speak only local dialect
idiom
vernacular
To use the vernacular of the day, Peter was square.
patter
the famous Glasgow patter
lingo (informal)
I don't speak the lingo.
patois
people from the ghetto who speak street patois
lingua franca
2 (noun)
Definition
the specialized vocabulary used by a particular group
the language of business
Synonyms
vocabulary
Children need to read to improve their vocabularies.
tongue
jargon
full of the jargon and slang of self-improvement courses
terminology
medical terminology
idiom
I was irritated by his use of archaic idiom.
cant
He resorted to a lot of pseudo-psychological cant to confuse me.
lingo (informal)
argot
the argot of the university campus
3 (noun)
Definition
the ability to use words to communicate
Students examined how children acquire language.
Synonyms
speech
the development of speech in children
communication
expression
From Cairo came expressions of regret at the attack.
speaking
talk
toddlers babbling on in baby talk
talking
conversation
Our telephone conversation lasted an hour and a half.
discourse
a tradition of political discourse
interchange
utterance
the simple utterance of a few platitudes
parlance
He is, in common parlance, a `sad loser'.
vocalization
verbalization
4 (noun)
Definition
a particular style of verbal expression
a booklet summarising it in plain language
Synonyms
style
The author's style is wonderfully anecdotal.
wording
The wording is so vague that no-one knows what it actually means.
expression
She puts a lot of expression into her playing.
phrasing
vocabulary
usage
Certain words may not even be in modern usage.
parlance
diction
phraseology
The phraseology of his speech was vivid as well as apt.
subject word lists
See African LanguagesSee Asian LanguagesSee Australasian LanguagesSee European LanguagesSee North American LanguagesSee South American LanguagesSee Ancient LanguagesSee Artificial LanguagesSee Language Groups
Quotations
Language is the dress of thought [Samuel Johnson – Lives of the English Poets: Cowley]After all, when you come right down to it, how many people speak the same language even when they speak the same language? [Russell Hoban – The Lion of Boaz-Jachin and Jachin-Boaz]Languages are the pedigrees of nations [Samuel Johnson]We've come intil a gey queer time Whan scrievin Scots is near a crime "There's no-one speaks like that", they fleer But wha the deil spoke like King Lear? [Sydney Goodsir Smith – Epistle to John Guthrie]A language is a dialect with an army and a navy [Max Weinrich]One does not inhabit a country; one inhabits a language. That is our country, our fatherland - and no other [E.M. Cioran – Anathemas and Admirations]Everything can change, but not the language that we carry inside us, like a world more exclusive and final than one's mother's womb [Italo Calvino – By Way of an Autobiography]To God I speak Spanish, to women Italian, to men French, and to my horse - German [attributed to Emperor Charles V]In language, the ignorant have prescribed laws to the learned [Richard Duppa – Maxims]Language is fossil poetry [Ralph Waldo Emerson – Essays: Nominalist and Realist]Political language... is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind [George Orwell – Shooting an Elephant]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of argot
Definition
slang or jargon peculiar to a particular group
the argot of the university campus
Synonyms
jargon,
slang,
dialect,
idiom,
vernacular,
patter,
parlance,
cant,
lingo (informal),
patois
in the sense of cant
Definition
specialized vocabulary of a particular group, such as thieves or lawyers
He resorted to a lot of pseudo-psychological cant to confuse me.
Synonyms
jargon,
slang,
vernacular,
patter,
lingo (informal),
argot
in the sense of conversation
Definition
informal talk between two or more people
Our telephone conversation lasted an hour and a half.
Synonyms
talk,
exchange,
discussion,
dialogue,
tête-à-tête,
conference,
communication,
chat,
gossip,
intercourse (formal),
discourse,
communion,
converse,
powwow,
colloquy (formal),
chinwag (British, informal),
confabulation,
confab (informal),
craic (Irish, informal),
korero (New Zealand)
Synonyms of 'language'
language
Explore 'language' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of dialect
Definition
a form of a language spoken in a particular geographical area
the number of Italians who speak only local dialect
Synonyms
language,
speech,
tongue,
jargon,
idiom,
vernacular,
brogue,
lingo (informal),
patois,
provincialism,
localism
in the sense of discourse
Definition
conversation
a tradition of political discourse
Synonyms
conversation,
talk,
discussion,
speech,
communication,
chat,
dialogue,
converse
in the sense of expression
Definition
the transforming of ideas into words
From Cairo came expressions of regret at the attack.
Synonyms
statement,
declaration,
announcement,
communication,
mention,
assertion,
utterance,
articulation,
pronouncement,
enunciation,
verbalization,
asseveration
in the sense of expression
She puts a lot of expression into her playing.
Synonyms
intonation,
style,
delivery,
phrasing,
emphasis,
execution,
diction
in the sense of idiom
Definition
the characteristic vocabulary or usage of a person or group
I was irritated by his use of archaic idiom.
Synonyms
language,
talk,
style,
usage,
jargon,
vernacular,
parlance,
mode of expression
in the sense of jargon
Definition
specialized language relating to a particular subject, profession, or group
full of the jargon and slang of self-improvement courses
Synonyms
parlance,
slang,
idiom,
patter,
tongue,
usage,
dialect,
cant,
lingo (informal),
patois,
argot,
leetspeak, l33tspeak or 1337speak,
netspeak
in the sense of lingo
Definition
any foreign or unfamiliar language or jargon
I don't speak the lingo.
Synonyms
language,
jargon,
dialect,
talk,
speech,
tongue,
idiom,
vernacular,
patter,
cant,
patois,
argot (formal)
in the sense of parlance
Definition
the manner of speaking associated with a particular group or subject
He is, in common parlance, a `sad loser'.
Synonyms
language,
talk,
speech,
tongue,
jargon,
idiom,
lingo (informal),
phraseology,
manner of speaking
in the sense of patois
Definition
the jargon of a particular group
people from the ghetto who speak street patois
Synonyms
jargon,
slang,
vernacular,
patter,
cant,
lingo (informal),
argot
in the sense of patter
Definition
the jargon of a particular group
the famous Glasgow patter
Synonyms
jargon,
slang,
vernacular,
cant,
lingo (informal),
patois,
argot
Additional synonyms
in the sense of phraseology
Definition
the manner in which words or phrases are used
The phraseology of his speech was vivid as well as apt.
Synonyms
wording,
style,
expression,
language,
speech,
phrase,
phrasing,
idiom,
syntax,
parlance,
diction,
choice of words
in the sense of talk
toddlers babbling on in baby talk
Synonyms
language,
words,
speech,
jargon,
slang,
dialect,
lingo (informal),
patois,
argot
in the sense of terminology
Definition
the specialized words and expressions relating to a particular subject
medical terminology
Synonyms
language,
terms,
vocabulary,
jargon,
cant,
lingo (informal),
nomenclature,
patois,
phraseology,
argot
in the sense of usage
Definition
the way in which a word is actually used in a language
Certain words may not even be in modern usage.
Synonyms
phraseology,
terminology,
parlance,
mode of expression,
way of speaking or writing
in the sense of utterance
Definition
the expression in words of ideas, thoughts, or feelings
the simple utterance of a few platitudes
Synonyms
speaking,
voicing,
expression,
breathing,
delivery,
ejaculation,
articulation,
enunciation,
vocalization,
verbalization,
vociferation
in the sense of vernacular
Definition
the commonly spoken language or dialect of a particular people or place
To use the vernacular of the day, Peter was square.
Synonyms
speech,
jargon,
idiom,
parlance,
cant,
native language,
dialect,
patois,
argot,
vulgar tongue
in the sense of wording
Definition
the way in which words are used to express something
The wording is so vague that no-one knows what it actually means.