gesture

plural gestures

1. countableuncountableA motion of the limbs or body, especially one made to emphasize speech.

   The middle-finger gesture is really a nonverbal swear.

   2 more examples

   Grace was in all her steps, heaven in her eye, / In every gesture dignity and love.

   1667, John Milton, “Book VII”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC

   Hand gestures are also essential to Belter communication, as they evolved from the days of wearing space suits with poor comms during the early settler days.

   2016 January 15, Bryan Enk, “Belter Creole 101”, in SYFY

2. countableuncountableAn act or a remark that serves as a formality or as a sign of attitude.

   We took flowers as a gesture of sympathy.

   1 more example

   But, with a gesture, she put a period to this dalliance—one shouldn't palter so on an empty stomach, she might almost have said.

   1922, Michael Arlen, “2/4/1”, in “Piracy”: A Romantic Chronicle of These Days

3. countableuncountablecomputingA motion made with a pointing device, or on a touchscreen, that is recognised by the system as a command.

   This Web browser can be controlled with mouse gestures.

4. countableobsoleteuncountableThe manner of carrying the body; position of the body or limbs; posture.

   Accubation, or lying down at meals, was a gesture used by very many nations.

   1650, Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica: […], 2nd edition, London: […] A[braham] Miller, for Edw[ard] Dod and Nath[aniel] Ekins, […], →OCLC

present singular third person gestures · participle present gesturing · participle past gestured · past gestured

1. intransitiveTo make a gesture or gestures.

   My dad told me never to gesture with my hands when I talk.

   1 more example

   Never gesture at someone using your middle finger: it may be perceived as an insult.

   Synonyms: gesticulate, gesticulate

2. transitiveTo express (something) by a gesture or gestures.

   He gestured his disgust.

3. transitiveTo accompany or illustrate with gesture or action.

   It is not orderly read, nor gestured as beseemeth.

   [1594], Richard Hooker, edited by J[ohn] S[penser], Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie, […], London: […] Iohn Windet, […], →OCLC, (please specify the page)

4. transitiveTo express or signal (to someone) by a gesture or gestures (to do something, go somewhere, etc).

   “Then what can you do?” she snapped. “I was told you were the best. Was that an idle boast?” He sighed and gestured her to sit down. “My lady, I—” “Countess,” she said sharply.

   2010 November 1, Elizabeth Chadwick, Elizabeth Chadwick Bundle: The Greatest Knight, The Scarlet Lion, and For the King's Favor, Sourcebooks, Inc., →ISBN

   2 more examples

   […] she sweepingly gestured him to the pillory — a chair upon the platform, facing the school. Here he suffered for the unusual term of an hour, with many jocular and cunning eyes constantly upon him; and, when he was released at noon, horrid shouts […]

   1915, Booth Tarkington, “Wednesday Madness”, in The Cosmopolitan, page 61

   Lorna gestured him to wait and handed the digital camera back to her. […] The guard gestured her to follow him. He seemed harmless without any guile as he stood facing her, waiting for her. She nodded and gestured, telling him to lead the way.

   2021 May 1, Bruce Allsman, The Museum Curator, Bruce Yeoh