oral

Noun · Adjective

WordNet 3.0

Noun (1)

  1. an examination conducted by spoken communicationSynonyms: oral examoral examinationviva voceviva

Adjective (4)

  1. using speech rather than writing“an oral tradition”“an oral agreement”Synonyms: 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”
  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
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

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]

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