Wiktionary

gesture

English

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Etymology

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From Medieval Latin gestūra (“a mode of action”), from Latin gerō (“to bear; (reflexive) bear oneself, behave, act”), past participle gestus.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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gesture (plural gestures)

  1. A motion of the limbs or body, especially one made to emphasize speech.
    The middle-finger gesture is really a nonverbal swear.
    • 1667, John Milton, “Book VII”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
      Grace was in all her steps, heaven in her eye, / In every gesture dignity and love.
  2. An act or a remark that serves as a formality or as a sign of attitude.
    We took flowers as a gesture of sympathy.
    • 1922, Michael Arlen, “2/4/1”, in “Piracy”: A Romantic Chronicle of These Days‎[1]:
      But, with a gesture, she put a period to this dalliance—one shouldn't palter so on an empty stomach, she might almost have said.
  3. (graphical user interface) A motion made with a pointing device, or on a touchscreen, that is recognised by the system as a command.
    This Web browser can be controlled with mouse gestures.
  4. (obsolete) The manner of carrying the body; position of the body or limbs; posture.

Derived terms

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Translations

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motion of the limbs or body

Verb

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gesture (third-person singular simple present gestures, present participle gesturing, simple past and past participle gestured)

  1. (intransitive) To make a gesture or gestures.
    My dad told me never to gesture with my hands when I talk.
    Never gesture at someone using your middle finger: it may be perceived as an insult.
  2. (transitive) To express (something) by a gesture or gestures.
    He gestured his disgust.
  3. (transitive) To accompany or illustrate with gesture or action.
  4. (transitive) To express or signal (to someone) by a gesture or gestures (to do something, go somewhere, etc).
    • 1915, Booth Tarkington, Wednesday Madness, in The Cosmopolitan, page 61:
      […] she sweepingly gestured him to the pillory — a chair upon the platform, facing the school. Here he suffered for the unusual term of an hour, with many jocular and cunning eyes constantly upon him; and, when he was released at noon, horrid shouts […] }}
    • 2010 November 1, Elizabeth Chadwick, Elizabeth Chadwick Bundle: The Greatest Knight, The Scarlet Lion, and For the King's Favor, Sourcebooks, Inc., →ISBN:
      “Then what can you do?” she snapped. “I was told you were the best. Was that an idle boast?” He sighed and gestured her to sit down. “My lady, I—” “Countess,” she said sharply.
    • 2021 May 1, Bruce Allsman, The Museum Curator, Bruce Yeoh:
      Lorna gestured him to wait and handed the digital camera back to her. […] The guard gestured her to follow him. He seemed harmless without any guile as he stood facing her, waiting for her. She nodded and gestured, telling him to lead the way.

Synonyms

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Hyponyms

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  • ((intransitive) make a gesture): beckon

Translations

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See also

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Further reading

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Alemannic German

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Adjective

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gesture

  1. Alternative form of gesturm

Latin

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Participle

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gestūre

  1. vocative masculine singular of gestūrus
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