[syn: oral, unwritten]
2. of or relating to or affecting or for use in the mouth;
- Example: "oral hygiene"
- Example: "an oral thermometer"
- Example: "an oral vaccine"
3. of or involving the mouth or mouth region or the surface on which the mouth is located;
- Example: "the oral cavity"
- Example: "the oral mucous membrane"
- Example: "the oral surface of a starfish"
4. a stage in psychosexual development when the child's interest is concentrated in the mouth; fixation at this stage is said to result in dependence, selfishness, and aggression;
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Oral \O"ral\, a. [L. os, oris, the mouth, akin to Skr. [=a]s.
Cf. Adore, Orison, Usher.]
1. Uttered by the mouth, or in words; spoken, not written;
verbal; as, oral traditions; oral testimony; oral law.
[1913 Webster]
2. Of or pertaining to the mouth; surrounding or lining the
mouth; as, the oral cavity; oral cilia or cirri.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
oral
adj 1: using speech rather than writing; "an oral tradition";
"an oral agreement" [syn: oral, unwritten]
2: of or relating to or affecting or for use in the mouth; "oral
hygiene"; "an oral thermometer"; "an oral vaccine"
3: of or involving the mouth or mouth region or the surface on
which the mouth is located; "the oral cavity"; "the oral
mucous membrane"; "the oral surface of a starfish" [ant:
aboral]
4: a stage in psychosexual development when the child's interest
is concentrated in the mouth; fixation at this stage is said
to result in dependence, selfishness, and aggression [ant:
anal, anal retentive]
n 1: an examination conducted by spoken communication [syn:
oral, oral exam, oral examination, viva voce,
viva]