Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense texts, present participle texting, past tense, past participle texted
1. singular noun
The text of a book is the main part of it, rather than the introduction, pictures, or notes.
The text is precise and informative.
2. uncountable noun
Text is any written material.
The machine can recognise hand-written characters and turn them into printed text.
The manuscript consisted of 500 pages of typed text.
3. countable noun [usually singular]
The text of a speech, broadcast, or recording is the written version of it.
A text of his speech had been circulated to all of the bishops. [+ of]
4. countable noun
A text is a book or other piece of writing, especially one connected with science or learning.
Her text is believed to be the oldest surviving manuscript by a female physician.
5. countable noun
A text is a written or spoken passage, especially one that is used in a school or universityfor discussion or in an examination.
I'll read the text aloud first.
His early plays are set texts in universities.
Synonyms: passage, extract, line, sentence More Synonyms of text
6. countable noun
A text is the same as a text message.
He sent a text to his boss insisting that he had done nothing wrong.
7. verb
If you text someone, you send them a text message on a mobile phone.
Mary texted me when she got home. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: text message, SMS, MMS, message More Synonyms of text
More Synonyms of text
text in British English
(tɛkst)
noun
1.
the main body of a printed or written work as distinct from commentary, notes, illustrations, etc
2.
the words of something printed or written
3. (often plural)
a book prescribed as part of a course of study
4. computing
the words printed, written, or displayed on a visual display unit
5.
the original exact wording of a work, esp the Bible, as distinct from a revision or translation
6.
a short passage of the Bible used as a starting point for a sermon or adduced as proof of a doctrine
7.
the topic or subject of a discussion or work
8. printing
any one of several styles of letters or types
9. short for textbook
10. short for text message
verb
11.
to send a text message to (someone) using a mobile phone
Derived forms
textless (ˈtextless)
adjective
Word origin
C14: from Medieval Latin textus version, from Latin textus texture, from texere to compose
text in American English
(tɛkst)
noun
1.
the actual structure of words in a piece of writing; wording
2.
a.
the actual or original words used by an author, as distinguished from notes, commentary, paraphrase, translation, etc.
b.
the exact or original words of a speaker
3.
any of the forms, versions, or editions in which a written work exists
4.
the principal matter on a printed or written page, as distinguished from notes, headings, illustrations, etc.
5.
the main body of a book, excluding front and back matter
6.
the body, or substance, of an item of computer data, esp. nonnumerical data, as opposed to the accompanying information necessary for storage, retrieval, etc.
7.
a.
letters, numbers, or symbols forming words, phrases, etc., used chiefly in a text message
b.
text message
8.
the words of a song, oratorio, etc.
9.
a.
a Biblical passage quoted as authority for a belief or as the topic of a sermon
b.
any passage, book, etc. used to support one's stand or as thematic material, etc.
c.
any topic or subject dealt with
10.
something, usually a piece of writing, regarded as an object of analysis or interpretation
11.
text hand
12.
any of several black-letter styles of type
13.
textbook
14.
any of various versions or recensions of all or part of the Scriptures, taken to represent the authentic reading
verb transitive, verb intransitive
15.
to send a text message (to)
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈsubject
Word origin
ME < OFr texte < L textus, fabric, structure, text < pp. of texere, to weave: see technic
COBUILD Collocations
text
unlimited texts
Examples of 'text' in a sentence
text
We email and text one another but to actually see him was amazing.
The Sun (2017)
Police found the text on his phone.
The Sun (2016)
We have really used the book text and changed very little of it.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
If you call or text after this time you will not be entered but may be charged.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
On internet browsers parts of the text are highlighted.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The technology will send out text messages with promotional codes offering discounts for products.
Computing (2010)
In a final blow she received a text message saying that she could no longer attend cabinet meetings.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
If this message is not received, the sensor sends a text message to the patient to remind them to take their medication.
Computing (2010)
Weeks and weeks after the interview, I get a text from him asking about the piece.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We were surprised that more people wanted to text rather than speak to each other.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Their set text will be insights gleaned from a lifetime in the business of making people laugh.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Mobile phone text messages showed that he was moving them on to a network of criminal contacts.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Work with the text and speak to that problem.
Christianity Today (2000)
You will be charged for one standard text message plus your donation.
The Sun (2014)
They still phone and text each other.
The Sun (2010)
That comfort stems from the realignment of the company toward text books and online educational products.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
None is from speeches or prepared texts.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Looking at the faint print of the printed texts was no help at all.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
You might cite part of this text with a direct quotation followed by a footnote.
Marius, Richard A Short Guide to Writing About History (1995)
What precisely was in the text messages?
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Why not fire off a text message our man?
The Sun (2006)
I'VE found a secret mobile with texts from four women which my husband had replied to.
The Sun (2009)
If you call or text after this time you will not be entered but will still be charged.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Texts cost 150 plus standard text charge.
The Sun (2013)
Yet he is a dandy too: he follows the original text as a dandy follows fashion.
The Times Literary Supplement (2013)
The congressman liked to give his new staff set texts, and still does.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Youngsters send 1.50 texts and receive security codes that unlock adult sites otherwise restricted.
The Sun (2006)
I kept getting more texts from her and loads of voicemails which were really hurtful.
The Sun (2007)
It will allow drivers, either by using dashboard controls or voice recognition, to listen to their digital music players or have telephone text messages read aloud.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
In other languages
text
British English: text /tɛkst/ NOUN
Text is any written material.
A CD-ROM can store more than 250,000 pages of typed text.
American English: text
Arabic: نَصّ
Brazilian Portuguese: texto
Chinese: 文案
Croatian: tekst
Czech: text
Danish: tekst
Dutch: tekst
European Spanish: texto
Finnish: teksti
French: texte
German: Text
Greek: κείμενο
Italian: testo
Japanese: 本文
Korean: 본문
Norwegian: tekst
Polish: tekst
European Portuguese: texto
Romanian: text
Russian: текст
Latin American Spanish: texto
Swedish: text
Thai: เนื้อหา
Turkish: metin
Ukrainian: текст
Vietnamese: bài văn
British English: text /tɛkst/ VERB
If you text someone, you send them a text message on a mobile phone.
My sister texted me when she got home.
American English: text
Arabic: يُرْسِلُ رِسَالَةً قَصِيرَة
Brazilian Portuguese: enviar uma mensagem de texto
Chinese: 发送手机信息
Croatian: slati SMS
Czech: poslat textovou zprávu
Danish: sende en SMS-besked
Dutch: sms'en
European Spanish: enviar un SMS
Finnish: lähettää tekstiviesti
French: envoyer un texto
German: texten
Greek: στέλνω μήνυμα κειμένου
Italian: mandare sms
Japanese: テキストメッセージを送る
Korean: 문자 메시지를 보내다
Norwegian: tekste
Polish: napisać krótką wiadomość
European Portuguese: enviar uma mensagem de texto
Romanian: a trimite un mesaj text
Russian: отправлять текстовое сообщение
Latin American Spanish: enviar un texto
Swedish: sms:a
Thai: ส่งข้อความทางโทรศัพท์มือถือ
Turkish: mesaj atmak
Ukrainian: надсилати текстове повідомлення
Vietnamese: gửi tin nhắn
British English: text VERB
If you text someone, you send them a text message on a mobile phone.
Mary texted me when she got home.
American English: text
Brazilian Portuguese: enviar uma mensagem de texto
Chinese: 给…发短信用手机
European Spanish: enviar un mensaje de texto
French: envoyer un SMS à
German: eine Textnachricht senden
Italian: inviare un messaggino a
Japanese: 携帯メールを送る
Korean: 문자 메시지를 보내다
European Portuguese: enviar uma mensagem de texto
Latin American Spanish: enviar un mensaje de texto
All related terms of 'text'
copy-text
a manuscript or earlier published version of a text, used as the basis for an emended, scholarly edition
sex-text
to send a text message of a sexual nature to (someone)
text file
a file , readable by a person, that doesn't contain any codes but only contains text and numbers
text hand
large handwriting
text neck
a painful condition caused by contorting the neck to view the screen of a mobile phone or portable electronic device
church text
a heavy typeface in Gothic style
plain text
a message set in a directly readable form rather than in coded groups
text editor
a computer program that allows the user to create and edit text files
greeked text
words which appear on screen as grey lines when the type size is too small for actual letters to be shown
text edition
that edition of a book prepared for use in schools or colleges
text message
A text message is a written message that you send using a mobile phone.
text messaging
Text messaging is sending written messages using a mobile phone.
text processing
the handling of alphabetic characters by a computer
textbook
A textbook is a book containing facts about a particular subject that is used by people studying that subject.
Chinese translation of 'text'
text
(tɛkst)
n
(u) (= written material) 正文 (zhèngwén)
(c) (= book) 课(課)本 (kèběn) (本, běn)
(c) (also text message) 手机(機)短信 (shǒujī duǎnxìn) (条(條), tiáo)
vt
(on mobile phone) 给 ... 发(發)短消息 (gěi ... fā duǎnxiāoxi)
1 (noun)
Definition
the main body of a printed or written work as distinct from items such as notes or illustrations
The photographs enhance the clarity of the text.
Synonyms
contents
words
content
She is reluctant to discuss the content of the play.
wording
body
the preface, followed by the main body of the article
matter
A proton is an elementary particle of matter.
subject matter
main body
2 (noun)
The output might be just one line of characters or several hundred pages of text.
Synonyms
words
wording
The wording is so vague that no-one knows what it actually means.
3 (noun)
Definition
the written version of the words of a speech, broadcast or recording
the text of Dr. Zuckermann's speech
Synonyms
transcript
script
Jenny's writing a film script.
4 (noun)
reluctant readers of GCSE set texts
Synonyms
reference book
textbook
source
reader
5 (noun)
the original text of the Lord of the Rings
Synonyms
written work
book
printed work
narrative
6 (noun)
Definition
a short passage of the Bible used as a starting point for a sermon
I'll read the text aloud first.
Synonyms
passage
He read a passage from the Bible.
extract
He read us an extract from his latest novel.
line
Drop me a line if I can be of any use to you.
sentence
paragraph
The length of a paragraph should depend on the information it contains.
verse
7 (noun)
His work served as the text of secret debates.
Synonyms
subject
It was I who first raised the subject of moving to Canada.
matter
This conflict forms the matter of the play.
topic
They offer tips on topics such as home safety.
argument
theme
The novel's central theme is obsession.
thesis
His central thesis is that it's crucial to document as many dying languages as possible.
motif
the motif of magical apples in fairytales
8 (noun)
Synonyms
text message
SMS
MMS
(verb)
Synonyms
text message
SMS
MMS
message
subject word lists
See abbreviations and symbolsSee Emoticons
Additional synonyms
in the sense of body
Definition
the main part of anything
the preface, followed by the main body of the article
Synonyms
main part,
matter,
heart,
material,
mass,
substance,
bulk,
essence,
hub
in the sense of content
Definition
the meaning or substance of a piece of writing, often as distinguished from its style or form
She is reluctant to discuss the content of the play.
Synonyms
subject matter,
ideas,
matter,
material,
theme,
text,
substance,
burden,
essence,
gist
in the sense of extract
Definition
something extracted, such as a passage from a book, etc.
He read us an extract from his latest novel.
Synonyms
passage,
selection,
excerpt,
cutting,
clipping,
abstract,
quotation,
citation
Synonyms of 'text'
text
Explore 'text' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of line
Drop me a line if I can be of any use to you.
Synonyms
note,
message,
letter,
memo,
report,
word,
card,
email or e-mail,
postcard,
text
in the sense of matter
Definition
the substance of which something, esp. a physical object, is made
A proton is an elementary particle of matter.
Synonyms
substance,
material,
body,
stuff
in the sense of matter
Definition
the content of written or verbal material as distinct from its style or form
This conflict forms the matter of the play.
Synonyms
content,
sense,
subject,
argument,
text,
substance,
burden,
thesis,
purport,
gist,
pith
in the sense of motif
Definition
a distinctive idea, esp. a theme elaborated on in a piece of music or literature
the motif of magical apples in fairytales
Synonyms
theme,
idea,
subject,
concept,
leitmotif,
trope
in the sense of paragraph
Definition
a section of a piece of writing, usually devoted to one idea, which begins on a new line and is often indented
The length of a paragraph should depend on the information it contains.
Synonyms
section,
part,
notice,
item,
passage,
clause,
portion,
subdivision
in the sense of script
Definition
the text of a play, TV programme, or film for the use of performers
Jenny's writing a film script.
Synonyms
text,
lines,
words,
book,
copy,
dialogue,
manuscript,
libretto
in the sense of theme
Definition
the main idea or topic in a discussion or lecture
The novel's central theme is obsession.
Synonyms
subject,
idea,
topic,
matter,
argument,
text,
burden,
essence,
thesis,
subject matter,
keynote,
gist,
through-line (Australian, US, Canadian)
in the sense of thesis
Definition
an unproved statement put forward as a premise in an argument
His central thesis is that it's crucial to document as many dying languages as possible.
Synonyms
premise,
subject,
statement,
proposition,
theme,
topic,
assumption,
postulate,
surmise,
supposition
in the sense of topic
Definition
a subject of a speech, book, conversation, etc.
They offer tips on topics such as home safety.
Synonyms
subject,
point,
question,
issue,
matter,
theme,
text,
thesis,
subject matter
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.