gesture
(redirected from gesturer)Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Idioms.
gesture
a movement of the hand, arm, body, head, or face that expresses a thought, opinion, or emotion: a threatening gesture; any action or communication used to express an idea or feeling: a loving gesture
Not to be confused with:
jester – one who makes jokes and funny moves; a professional clown: the court jester
Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree
ges·ture
(jĕs′chər)n.
1.
a. A motion of the limbs or body made to express or help express thought or to emphasize speech.
b. The action of making such a motion or motions: communicated solely by gesture.
2. An act or a remark made as a formality or as a sign of intention or attitude: sent flowers as a gesture of sympathy.
v. ges·tured, ges·tur·ing, ges·tures
v.intr.
To make gestures.
v.tr.
To show, express, or direct by gestures: gestured her disapproval.
[Middle English, from Medieval Latin gestūra, bearing, from Latin gestus, past participle of gerere, to carry, carry on, act.]
ges′tur·al adj.
ges′tur·al·ly adv.
ges′tur·er n.
Synonyms: gesture, gesticulation, sign, signal
These nouns denote an expressive, meaningful bodily motion: a gesture of approval; frantic gesticulations to get help; made a sign for silence; gave the signal to advance.
These nouns denote an expressive, meaningful bodily motion: a gesture of approval; frantic gesticulations to get help; made a sign for silence; gave the signal to advance.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
gesture
(ˈdʒɛstʃə)n
1. a motion of the hands, head, or body to emphasize an idea or emotion, esp while speaking
2. something said or done as a formality or as an indication of intention: a political gesture.
3. obsolete the manner in which a person bears himself; posture
vb
to express by or make gestures; gesticulate
[C15: from Medieval Latin gestūra bearing, from Latin gestus, past participle of gerere to bear]
ˈgestural adj
ˈgesturer n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
ges•ture
(ˈdʒɛs tʃər)n., v. -tured, -tur•ing. n.
1. a movement or position of the hand, arm, body, head, or face that is expressive of an idea, opinion, emotion, etc.: a threatening gesture.
2. the use of such movements to express thought, emotion, etc.
3. any action, communication, etc., intended for effect or as a formality; considered expression; demonstration: a gesture of friendship.
v.i. 4. to make or use a gesture or gestures.
v.t. 5. to express by a gesture or gestures.
[1375–1425; late Middle English < Medieval Latin gestūra mode of action, manner, bearing = Latin gest(us), past participle of gerere to bear, carry on, perform + -ūra -ure]
ges′tur•al, adj.
ges′tur•er, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
Gesture
1. the science of gesture.
2. the art of conducting singers of Gregorian chant through hand gestures to mark the rise or fall of the melody. — chironomic, cheironomic, adj.
2. the art of conducting singers of Gregorian chant through hand gestures to mark the rise or fall of the melody. — chironomic, cheironomic, adj.
the science of manual sign language, as for use in communicating with the deaf. — dactylotogist, n. — dactylologic, dactylological, adj.
Linguistics. the study of units of gestural expression.
Linguistics. a systematic study of nonverbal body gestures, as smiles, hand motions, or other movements, in their relation to human communication; body language. Also called pasimology. — kinesic, adj.
kinesics.
the study of the signs that reveal human passions. — pathognomonic, adj.
-Ologies & -Isms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
gesture
Past participle: gestured
Gerund: gesturing
| Imperative |
|---|
| gesture |
| gesture |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  gesture - motion of hands or body to emphasize or help to express a thought or feelingmovement, motility, motion, move - a change of position that does not entail a change of location; "the reflex motion of his eyebrows revealed his surprise"; "movement is a sign of life"; "an impatient move of his hand"; "gastrointestinal motility" jab, jabbing, poking, thrusting, poke, thrust - a sharp hand gesture (resembling a blow); "he warned me with a jab with his finger"; "he made a thrusting motion with his fist" mudra - ritual hand movement in Hindu religious dancing |
| 2. | gesture - the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals visual communication - communication that relies on vision sign - a gesture that is part of a sign language gesticulation - a deliberate and vigorous gesture or motion beck - a beckoning gesture facial expression, facial gesture - a gesture executed with the facial muscles flourish - a showy gesture; "she entered with a great flourish" high-five - a gesture of greeting or elation; one person's upraised palm slaps the upraised palm of another person previous question - a motion calling for an immediate vote on the main question under discussion by a deliberative assembly shrug - a gesture involving the shoulders V sign - a sign (for victory); making a V with the index and middle fingers nod - a sign of assent or salutation or command bowing, obeisance, bow - bending the head or body or knee as a sign of reverence or submission or shame or greeting sign of the cross - a gesture with the right hand moving to form a cross; used by Catholics as a profession of faith | |
| 3. | gesture - something done as an indication of intention; "a political gesture"; "a gesture of defiance" beau geste - a gracious (but usually meaningless) gesture indicant, indication - something that serves to indicate or suggest; "an indication of foul play"; "indications of strain"; "symptoms are the prime indicants of disease" | |
| Verb | 1. | gesture - show, express or direct through movement; "He gestured his desire to leave" wink - signal by winking; "She winked at him" exsert, hold out, stretch forth, stretch out, put out, extend - thrust or extend out; "He held out his hand"; "point a finger"; "extend a hand"; "the bee exserted its sting" shrug - raise one's shoulders to indicate indifference or resignation communicate, intercommunicate - transmit thoughts or feelings; "He communicated his anxieties to the psychiatrist" bless, sign - make the sign of the cross over someone in order to call on God for protection; consecrate nod - express or signify by nodding; "He nodded his approval" cross oneself - make the sign of the cross; in the Catholic religion bow, bow down - bend one's knee or body, or lower one's head; "He bowed before the King"; "She bowed her head in shame" shake - shake (a body part) to communicate a greeting, feeling, or cognitive state; "shake one's head"; "She shook her finger at the naughty students"; "The old enemies shook hands"; "Don't shake your fist at me!" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
gesture
noun
1. sign, action, signal, motion, indication, gesticulation She made a menacing gesture with her fist.
2. demonstration, display, exhibition, expression, proof, illustration, testimony, manifestation He called on the government to make a gesture of goodwill.
verb
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
gesture
noun1. An expressive, meaningful bodily movement:
Informal: high sign.
2. Something that takes the place of words in communicating a thought or feeling:
To make bodily motions so as to convey an idea or complement speech:
Idiom: give the high sign.
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
إيـْمَاءَةحَرَكَه، إيماءهيومئُ
gestoukázatdát znamení
gestusgøre tegnfagter
ele
gesta
gesztus
látbragî; handahreyfingartjá e-î meî látbragîi
身振り
몸짓
duoti ženklągestasmostas
žestikulētžests
gestogestikulovať
kretnjapoteza
gest
ท่าทาง
el kol hareketleriel kol hareketleri yapmakjest
cử chỉ
gesture
[ˈdʒestʃəʳ]A. N
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
gesture
[ˈdʒɛstʃər] n
(= symbolic action) → geste m
a symbolic gesture → un geste symbolique
as a gesture to sth [+ security] → par mesure de qch
a symbolic gesture → un geste symbolique
as a gesture to sth [+ security] → par mesure de qch
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
gesture
n (lit, fig) → Geste f; to make a gesture → eine Geste machen; a gesture of defiance/approval → eine herausfordernde/zustimmende Geste; as a gesture of support/goodwill → als Zeichen der Unterstützung/des guten Willens; his use of gesture → seine Gestik
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
gesture
[ˈdʒɛstʃəʳ]Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
gesture
(ˈdʒestʃə) noun a movement of the head, hand etc to express an idea etc. The speaker emphasized his words with violent gestures.
verb to make a gesture or gestures. He gestured to her to keep quiet.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
gesture
→ إيـْمَاءَة gesto gestus Geste χειρονομία gesto ele geste gesta gesto 身振り 몸짓 gebaar gest gest gesto жест gest ท่าทาง jest cử chỉ 姿态Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
ges·ture
n. gesto, ademán.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012