Meaning of gesture in English

Table of contents
  1. Pronunciation
  2. Verb
    1. Definitions
  3. Noun
    1. Etymology
    2. Definitions

  1. Pronunciation

    /ˈdʒɛstʃər/

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  1. Verb

    gesture

    Definitions

    1. show, express or direct through movement

    Examples

    • « He gestured his desire to leave »

    Derived terms

  2. Noun

    gesture

    Etymology

    late Middle English: from medieval Latin gestura, from Latin gerere‘bear, wield, perform’. The original sense was ‘bearing, deportment’, hence ‘the use of posture and bodily movements for effect in oratory’

    Definitions

    1. motion of hands or body to emphasize or help to express a thought or feeling

    Derived terms

  3. 2. the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals

    Derived terms

  4. 3. something done as an indication of intention

    Examples

    • « a political gesture »
    • « a gesture of defiance »

Famous quotes

  • « A poem in form still has to have voice, gesture, a sense of discovery, a metaphoric connection, as any poetry does. »
    Robert Morgan
  • « I have the ability to sing with emotion and feeling, but if you say I sound like Billie Holiday, that's cool. Let's look at who Billie was: she was this person, this singer, this beautiful diva who could move the audience with the slightest gesture of her hand. »
    Erykah Badu
  • « As governor, when I visited our troops in Kuwait and Iraq, I served them Thanksgiving dinner. It was a small gesture compared to their sacrifice. »
    Jennifer M. Granholm
  • « What sculptors do is represent the essence of gesture. What is important in mime is attitude. »
    Marcel Marceau
  • « Every word, facial expression, gesture, or action on the part of a parent gives the child some message about self-worth. It is sad that so many parents don't realize what messages they are sending. »
    Virginia Satir

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