GESTURE

Pronunciation (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does gesture mean? 

• GESTURE (noun)
  The noun GESTURE has 3 senses:

1. motion of hands or body to emphasize or help to express a thought or feeling
2. the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals
3. something done as an indication of intention

  Familiarity information: GESTURE used as a noun is uncommon.

• GESTURE (verb)
  The verb GESTURE has 1 sense:

1. show, express or direct through movement

  Familiarity information: GESTURE used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• GESTURE (noun)

Meaning:

Motion of hands or body to emphasize or help to express a thought or feeling

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("gesture" is a kind of...):

motility; motion; move; movement (a change of position that does not entail a change of location)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "gesture"):

jab; jabbing; poke; poking; thrust; thrusting (a sharp hand gesture (resembling a blow))

mudra (ritual hand movement in Hindu religious dancing)

Meaning:

The use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

gesture; motion

Hypernyms ("gesture" is a kind of...):

visual communication (communication that relies on vision)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "gesture"):

sign of the cross (a gesture with the right hand moving to form a cross; used by Catholics as a profession of faith)

bow; bowing; obeisance (bending the head or body or knee as a sign of reverence or submission or shame)

nod (a sign of assent or salutation or command)

V sign (a sign (for victory); making a V with the index and middle fingers)

wafture; wave; waving (the act of signaling by a movement of the hand)

shrug (a gesture involving the shoulders)

previous question (a motion calling for an immediate vote on the main question under discussion by a deliberative assembly)

high-five (a gesture of greeting or elation; one person's upraised palm slaps the upraised palm of another person)

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)

Meaning:

Something done as an indication of intention

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Context examples:

a political gesture / a gesture of defiance

Hypernyms ("gesture" is a kind of...):

indicant; indication (something that serves to indicate or suggest)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "gesture"):

beau geste (a gracious (but usually meaningless) gesture)

• GESTURE (verb)

Meaning:

Show, express or direct through movement

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

gesticulate; gesture; motion

Context example:

He gestured his desire to leave

Hypernyms (to "gesture" is one way to...):

communicate; intercommunicate (transmit thoughts or feelings)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "gesture"):

shake (shake (a body part) to communicate a greeting, feeling, or cognitive state)

bow; bow down (bend one's knee or body, or lower one's head)

cross oneself (make the sign of the cross; in the Catholic religion)

nod (express or signify by nodding)

bless; sign (make the sign of the cross over someone in order to call on God for protection; consecrate)

acclaim; applaud; clap; spat (clap one's hands or shout after performances to indicate approval)

clap; spat (clap one's hands together)

shrug (raise one's shoulders to indicate indifference or resignation)

exsert; extend; hold out; put out; stretch forth; stretch out (thrust or extend out)

wink (signal by winking)

beckon; wave (signal with the hands or nod)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s to somebody