What does language mean?

Definitions for language
ˈlæŋ gwɪdʒlan·guage

Here are all the possible meanings and translations of the word language.

Princeton's WordNet(2.77 / 38 votes)Rate this definition:

language, linguistic communication(noun)
a systematic means of communicating by the use of sounds or conventional symbols
"he taught foreign languages"; "the language introduced is standard throughout the text"; "the speed with which a program can be executed depends on the language in which it is written"
speech, speech communication, spoken communication, spoken language, language, voice communication, oral communication(noun)
(language) communication by word of mouth
"his speech was garbled"; "he uttered harsh language"; "he recorded the spoken language of the streets"
lyric, words, language(noun)
the text of a popular song or musical-comedy number
"his compositions always started with the lyrics"; "he wrote both words and music"; "the song uses colloquial language"
linguistic process, language(noun)
the cognitive processes involved in producing and understanding linguistic communication
"he didn't have the language to express his feelings"
language, speech(noun)
the mental faculty or power of vocal communication
"language sets homo sapiens apart from all other animals"
terminology, nomenclature, language(noun)
a system of words used to name things in a particular discipline
"legal terminology"; "biological nomenclature"; "the language of sociology"

GCIDE(3.60 / 10 votes)Rate this definition:

Language(n.)
Any system of symbols created for the purpose of communicating ideas, emotions, commands, etc., between sentient agents.
Etymology: [OE. langage, F. langage, fr. L. lingua the tongue, hence speech, language; akin to E. tongue. See Tongue, cf. Lingual.]
Language(n.)
Specifically: (computers) Any set of symbols and the rules for combining them which are used to specify to a computer the actions that it is to take; also referred to as a computer lanugage or programming language; as, JAVA is a new and flexible high-level language which has achieved popularity very rapidly.
Etymology: [OE. langage, F. langage, fr. L. lingua the tongue, hence speech, language; akin to E. tongue. See Tongue, cf. Lingual.]

Wiktionary(3.00 / 8 votes)Rate this definition:

language(Noun)
A form of communication using words either spoken or gestured with the hands and structured with grammar, often with a writing system.
language(Noun)
The ability to communicate using words.
the gift of language
language(Noun)
Nonverbal communication.
body language
language(Noun)
A computer language.
language(Noun)
The vocabulary and usage used in a particular specialist field.
legal language
language(Noun)
The particular words used in speech or a passage of text.
language(Noun)
Profanity.
language(Noun)
Words, written or spoken, in a specific sequence that a person uses to describe, to a another person, the type of thoughts in their mind.
language(Verb)
To communicate by language; to express in language.
Others were languaged in such doubtful expressions that they have a double sense. uE0004411uE001 Fuller.

Webster Dictionary(3.00 / 7 votes)Rate this definition:

Language(noun)
any means of conveying or communicating ideas; specifically, human speech; the expression of ideas by the voice; sounds, expressive of thought, articulated by the organs of the throat and mouth
Etymology: [OE. langage, F. langage, fr. L. lingua the tongue, hence speech, language; akin to E. tongue. See Tongue, cf. Lingual.]
Language(noun)
the expression of ideas by writing, or any other instrumentality
Etymology: [OE. langage, F. langage, fr. L. lingua the tongue, hence speech, language; akin to E. tongue. See Tongue, cf. Lingual.]
Language(noun)
the forms of speech, or the methods of expressing ideas, peculiar to a particular nation
Etymology: [OE. langage, F. langage, fr. L. lingua the tongue, hence speech, language; akin to E. tongue. See Tongue, cf. Lingual.]
Language(noun)
the characteristic mode of arranging words, peculiar to an individual speaker or writer; manner of expression; style
Etymology: [OE. langage, F. langage, fr. L. lingua the tongue, hence speech, language; akin to E. tongue. See Tongue, cf. Lingual.]
Language(noun)
the inarticulate sounds by which animals inferior to man express their feelings or their wants
Etymology: [OE. langage, F. langage, fr. L. lingua the tongue, hence speech, language; akin to E. tongue. See Tongue, cf. Lingual.]
Language(noun)
the suggestion, by objects, actions, or conditions, of ideas associated therewith; as, the language of flowers
Etymology: [OE. langage, F. langage, fr. L. lingua the tongue, hence speech, language; akin to E. tongue. See Tongue, cf. Lingual.]
Language(noun)
the vocabulary and phraseology belonging to an art or department of knowledge; as, medical language; the language of chemistry or theology
Etymology: [OE. langage, F. langage, fr. L. lingua the tongue, hence speech, language; akin to E. tongue. See Tongue, cf. Lingual.]
Language(noun)
a race, as distinguished by its speech
Etymology: [OE. langage, F. langage, fr. L. lingua the tongue, hence speech, language; akin to E. tongue. See Tongue, cf. Lingual.]
Language(verb)
to communicate by language; to express in language
Etymology: [OE. langage, F. langage, fr. L. lingua the tongue, hence speech, language; akin to E. tongue. See Tongue, cf. Lingual.]

Freebase(3.40 / 5 votes)Rate this definition:

Language
the type of which all languages are instances

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(2.00 / 4 votes)Rate this definition:

Language
lang′gwāj, n. that which is spoken by the tongue: human speech: speech peculiar to a nation: style or expression peculiar to an individual: diction: any manner of expressing thought.—v.t. to express in language.—adjs. Lang′uaged, skilled in language; Lang′uageless (Shak.), speechless, silent; Lang′ued (her.), furnished with a tongue.—Dead language, one no longer spoken, as opp. to Living language, one still spoken; Flash language (see Flash). [Fr. langage—langue—L. lingua (old form dingua), the tongue, akin to L. lingēre, Gr. leichein.]

The Roycroft Dictionary(2.67 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

language
The tool of the mind.

U.S. National Library of Medicine(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

Language
A verbal or nonverbal means of communicating ideas or feelings.

Editors Contribution(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

language
A systematic act, fact and ability to communicate by the use of words, definitions, expression, energy, structure, creativity, rules, sounds, voices, symbols, speech, typing, knowing, understanding or instructions.
Language differs in each country yet people can communicate even if they do not speak or know a language.
Submitted by MaryC on January 12, 2020
language
The act, fact and ability to communicate using words.
We all know what the language feels like as you can see it within a person as they look at you.
Submitted by MaryC on January 18, 2020

British National Corpus

Spoken Corpus Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'language' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #472
Written Corpus Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'language' in Written Corpus Frequency: #974
Nouns Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'language' in Nouns Frequency: #150

How to pronounce language?

Alex
US English
Daniel
British
Karen
Australian
Veena
Indian

How to say language in sign language?

Numerology

Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of language in Chaldean Numerology is: 9
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of language in Pythagorean Numerology is: 5

Examples of language in a Sentence

Gyles Lytton Sitrachy:
Perhaps of all the creations of man, language is the most astonishing.
Tricia Ferrara:
Initially, it is possible they may not have much to say, events like this sometimes defy language, and a teen may struggle to discuss. However, remain open for these emerging adults. They need to know that they matter and that the world's complexity is in dire need of their taking the time to think about and understand what it means to be global citizens.
Andres Bello:
Por la corrupción del lenguaje empiezan otras muchas corrupciones..." "By the corruption of language many other corruptions begin ...
Matt Maxey:
I can have more of an impact going the unconventional route with someone like Chance and go into the areas nobody deaf has been able to get to before, it all leads to something that improves the community. You see sign language in a lot more places than ever before. People are becoming more curious and at the same time more aware of what is going on with the deaf community.
Defense Minister Aldo Rebelo:
I don't know if that aggressive language we see in the social media will make its way to the streets, i don't believe this (demonstration) will go beyond what we have seen in the past.