tongue

plural tongues · alternative obsolete tong · alternative obsolete tonge · alternative obsolete toong · alternative obsolete toongue · alternative obsolete toung · alternative obsolete tounge · alternative obsolete toungue · alternative obsolete tung · alternative obsolete tunge

1. countableuncountableThe flexible muscular organ in the mouth that is used to move food around, for tasting and that is moved into various positions to modify the flow of air from the lungs in order to produce different sounds in speech.

   But lering and lurking here and there like ſpies,

   c. 1515–1516, published 1568, John Skelton, Againſt venemous tongues enpoyſoned with ſclaunder and falſe detractions &c.

   Synonyms: glossa, lingua

2. countableuncountableSuch an organ, as taken from animals and used for food (especially from cows).

   cold tongue with mustard

   1 more example

   However you eat them, tongue and chicken and new bread are very good things, and no one minds being sprinkled a little with soda-water on a really fine hot day.

   1902, E. Nesbit, chapter 4, in Five Children and It, New York: Dodd, Mead, published 1905, page 136

3. countableuncountableAny similar organ, such as the lingual ribbon, or odontophore, of a mollusk; the proboscis of a moth or butterfly; or the lingua of an insect.
4. countablemetonymicallyuncountableA language.

   He was speaking in his native tongue.

   5 more examples

   […] that great Towre, which is so much renownd For tongues confusion in holie writ,

   1591, Ed[mund] Sp[enser], “The Ruines of Time”, in Complaints. Containing Sundrie Small Poemes of the Worlds Vanitie. […], London: […] William Ponsonbie, […], →OCLC

   When I pointed to any thing, she told me the Name of it in her own Tongue, so that in a few Days I was able to call for whatever I had a mind to.

   1726 October 28, [Jonathan Swift], Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. […] [Gulliver’s Travels], London: […] Benj[amin] Motte, […], →OCLC, (please specify |part=I to IV), page [178]

   To dwell on a heath without studying its meanings was like wedding a foreigner without learning his tongue.

   1878 January–December, Thomas Hardy, chapter 7, in The Return of the Native […], volume I, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], published 1878, →OCLC

   “You should read Spanish,” he said. “It is a noble tongue. […]”

   1915, W[illiam] Somerset Maugham, chapter LXXXVI, in Of Human Bondage, New York, N.Y.: George H[enry] Doran Company, →OCLC

   If you do not speak English I am at your disposal with 187 other languages along with their various dialects and sub-tongues.

   1956, Cyril Hume, Forbidden Planet, spoken by Robby the Robot

   Synonyms: idiom, language, lingo

5. countableobsoleteuncountableThe speakers of a language, collectively.

   I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Isaiah 66:18

6. countableobsoleteuncountableA voice, (the distinctive sound of a person's speech); accent (distinctive manner of pronouncing a language).

   Who are you? Tell me, for more certainty, Albeit I’ll swear that I do know your tongue.

   c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene vi]

   1 more example

   [...] one of [the prisoners], whom by his tongue I knew to be a Scotchman, lamented most piteously [...]

   1748, [Tobias Smollett], chapter 21, in The Adventures of Roderick Random. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: […] [William Strahan] for J[ohn] Osborn […], →OCLC, page 173

7. countableuncountableA manner of speaking, often habitually.

   She can have a sharp tongue when she's annoyed.

   5 more examples

   Al maters wel pondred and wel to be regarded, How ſhuld a fals lying tung then be rewarded?

   c. 1515–1516, published 1568, John Skelton, Againſt venemous tongues enpoyſoned with ſclaunder and falſe detractions &c.

   [...] his wicked way of Living, his prophane Tongue, and his Contempt of Religion, had made him not very well receiv’d [...]

   1715, Daniel Defoe, The Family Instructor, London: Eman. Matthews, Volume 1, Part 2, Dialogue 2, p. 211

   "Well," said he, at last, "your tongue is bold; but I am no unfriend to plainness [...]"

   1886 May 1 – July 31, Robert Louis Stevenson, “The Death of the Red Fox”, in Kidnapped, being Memoirs of the Adventures of David Balfour in the Year 1751: […], London; Paris: Cassell & Company, published 1886, →OCLC, page 162

   I’m afraid I’ve inherited my uncle’s tongue and my mother’s want of tact.

   1935, Dorothy L. Sayers, chapter 8, in Gaudy Night, London: New English Library, published 1970, page 205

   Samuel had no equal for soothing hysteria and bringing quiet to a frightened child. It was the sweetness of his tongue and the tenderness of his soul.

   1952, John Steinbeck, East of Eden, London: Heinemann, Part 1, Chapter 2, p. 8

   Synonyms: mouth

8. countableplural normallyuncountableA person speaking in a specified manner.

   2007, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o, Wizard of the Crow, New York: Knopf Doubleday, Book 4, p. 592, … the drunk, who had been a permanent fixture in that bar, changed location and thereafter moved from bar to bar, saying to inquisitive tongues, Too long a stay in one seat tires the buttocks.

   2 more examples

   I know that we must keep apart for a long while; cruel tongues would force us apart, if nothing else did.

   1860, George Eliot, The Mill on the Floss, Book 7, Chapter 3

   […] it was obvious to his listeners that Pittypat, in his mind, was still a plump and charming miss of sixteen who must be sheltered against evil tongues.

   1936 June 30, Margaret Mitchell, chapter XXX, in Gone with the Wind, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company, →OCLC

9. countableuncountableThe power of articulate utterance; speech generally.

   I was so overwhelmed my tongue deserted me.

   1 more example

   Parrots imitating Human Tongue

   1717, “The Story of Pygmalion and the Statue”, in John Dryden, transl., Ovid’s Metamorphoses in fifteen books, London: Jacob Tonson, page 344

10. countableobsoleteuncountableDiscourse; the fluency of speech or expression.
11. obsoleteuncountableDiscourse; fluency of speech or expression.

    Much Tongue, and much Judgment seldom go together, for Talking and Thinking are Two Quite Differing Faculties,

    1692, Roger L’Estrange, “ (please specify the fable number.) (please specify the name of the fable.)”, in Fables, of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists: […], London: […] R[ichard] Sare, […], →OCLC

    2 more examples

    [...] fellows, soldiers, friends, Better consider what you have to do Than I, that have not well the gift of tongue, Can lift your blood up with persuasion.

    c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii]

    “[...] this Mr. Grandcourt has wonderful little tongue. Everything must be done dummy-like without his ordering.” “Then he’s the more whip, I doubt,” said Mrs. Girdle. “She’s got tongue enough, I warrant her [...]”

    1876, George Eliot [pseudonym; Mary Ann Evans], chapter XXXI, in Daniel Deronda, volume II, Edinburgh; London: William Blackwood and Sons, →OCLC, book IV (Gwendolen Gets Her Choice), page 275

12. countableobsoleteuncountableHonorable discourse; eulogy.

    She was born noble; let that title find her A private grave, but neither tongue nor honour!

    c. 1607–1621, Francis Beaumont, John Fletcher, Philip Massinger, “The Tragedy of Thierry and Theodoret”, in Comedies and Tragedies […], London: […] Humphrey Robinson, […], and for Humphrey Moseley […], published 1679, →OCLC, Act V, (please specify the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals)

13. countablein pluraloftenuncountablelifestyleGlossolalia.

    Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

    1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 Corinthians 13:8

    Synonyms: speaking in tongues

14. countableuncountableIn a shoe, the flap of material that goes between the laces and the foot (so called because it resembles a tongue in the mouth).

    I caught a glimpse of a brown boot, the tongue flapping, the sole tied on with string.

    1990, J. M. Coetzee, chapter 3, in Age of Iron, New York: Random House, page 96

    1 more example

    [...] her low-heeled shoes had flat fringed tongues to them—the kind of shoes you expected to see on a golf-course, or a Scottish highland, somewhere expensively hearty like that.

    2006, Sarah Waters, chapter 2, in The Night Watch, London: Virago, page 53

15. countableuncountableAny large or long physical protrusion on an automotive or machine part or any other part that fits into a long groove on another part.
16. countableuncountableA projection, or slender appendage or fixture.

    the tongue of a buckle, or of a balance

17. countableuncountableA long, narrow strip of land, projecting from the mainland into a sea or lake.

    On one side was a coral reef; on the other a low tongue of land, covered with mangrove thickets that grew out into the water.

    1851, Herman Melville, Moby-Dick, Chapter 12

18. countableuncountableThe pole of a towed or drawn vehicle or farm implement (e.g., trailer, cart, plow, harrow), by which it is pulled; for example, the pole of an ox cart, to the end of which the oxen are yoked.

    Far to the right, where the main pile sloped out, his cart reared tongue upward, like a plow.

    1986, Hortense Calisher, The Bobby-Soxer, Garden City, NY: Doubleday, page 91

19. countableuncountableThe clapper of a bell.

    The iron tongue of midnight hath told twelve:

    c. 1595–1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “A Midsommer Nights Dreame”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]

    1 more example

    [...] the bell clanged so loud that he could hear the iron tongue clapping against the metal sides each time it swung to and fro [...]

    1940, Richard Wright, Native Son, London: Jonathan Cape, Book 2, p. 156

20. countablefigurativelyuncountableAn individual point of flame from a fire.

    Then up a steep and dark and narrow stair We wound, until the torches’ fiery tongue Amid the gushing day beamless and pallid hung.

    1818, Percy Bysshe Shelley, The Revolt of Islam, London: C. and J. Ollier, Canto 3, stanza 13, p. 63

    1 more example

    Now, in this decadent age the art of fire-making had been altogether forgotten on the earth. The red tongues that went licking up my heap of wood were an altogether new and strange thing to Weena.

    1895, H. G. Wells, chapter XI, in The Time Machine

21. countableuncountableA small sole (type of fish).
22. countableuncountablenauticalA short piece of rope spliced into the upper part of standing backstays, etc.; also, the upper main piece of a mast composed of several pieces.
23. countableuncountableentertainmentA reed.
24. countableuncountablegeographyA division of formation; A layer or member of a formation that pinches out in one direction.
25. countableuncountableflagsThe middle protrusion of a triple-tailed flag.

present singular third person tongues · participle present tonguing · participle past tongued · past tongued · alternative obsolete tong · alternative obsolete tonge · alternative obsolete toong · alternative obsolete toongue · alternative obsolete toung · alternative obsolete tounge · alternative obsolete toungue · alternative obsolete tung · alternative obsolete tunge

1. ambitransitiveentertainmentOn a wind instrument, to articulate a note by starting the air with a tap of the tongue, as though by speaking a 'd' or 't' sound (alveolar plosive).

   Playing wind instruments involves tonguing on the reed or mouthpiece.

2. transitiveTo manipulate with the tongue.

   [T]he cattle tongued at the damp grass, licking rather than grazing. […]

   1985, Benjamin Capps, The Trail to Ogallala, TCU Press, →ISBN, page 88

3. slangsometimestransitivevulgarTo lick, penetrate or manipulate with the tongue during flirting or oral sex.

   I was tonguing her ear and serenading her in a passionate whisper, mimicking Elvis, mimicking Joey.

   1986 May 6, T.C. Boyle, Greasy Lake and Other Stories, Penguin, →ISBN

   2 more examples

   Hot I tongued her. She kissed me. I was kissed. All yielding she tossed my hair. Kissed, she kissed me.

   1922 February 2, James Joyce, “[8]”, in Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company […], →OCLC

   I was tonguing her sweet spot. "Shit, that's nice." Her breaths got faster as we locked into a delicious rhythm that was hitting my clit just right.

   2024 October 29, Adriana Herrera, Heat and Run: A Steamy F/F/F Omegaverse Novella, Adriana Herrera

4. To protrude in relatively long, narrow sections.

   a soil horizon that tongues into clay

5. To join by means of a tongue and groove.

   to tongue boards together

6. intransitiveobsoleteTo talk; to prate.
7. obsoletetransitiveTo speak; to utter.

   ’Tis still a dream, or else such stuff as madmen Tongue and brain not;

   1611 April (first recorded performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Cymbeline”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene iv]

8. obsoletetransitiveTo chide; to scold.

   How might she tongue me!

   c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Measure for Measure”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iv]

9. archaictransitiveTo flense

plural Tongues

1. countableuncountableA village by the Kyle of Tongue in Sutherland, Highland council area, Scotland (OS grid ref NC5956).
2. countableuncountableA surname.