gesture

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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.
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.
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
Present
I gesture
you gesture
he/she/it gestures
we gesture
you gesture
they gesture
Preterite
I gestured
you gestured
he/she/it gestured
we gestured
you gestured
they gestured
Present Continuous
I am gesturing
you are gesturing
he/she/it is gesturing
we are gesturing
you are gesturing
they are gesturing
Present Perfect
I have gestured
you have gestured
he/she/it has gestured
we have gestured
you have gestured
they have gestured
Past Continuous
I was gesturing
you were gesturing
he/she/it was gesturing
we were gesturing
you were gesturing
they were gesturing
Past Perfect
I had gestured
you had gestured
he/she/it had gestured
we had gestured
you had gestured
they had gestured
Future
I will gesture
you will gesture
he/she/it will gesture
we will gesture
you will gesture
they will gesture
Future Perfect
I will have gestured
you will have gestured
he/she/it will have gestured
we will have gestured
you will have gestured
they will have gestured
Future Continuous
I will be gesturing
you will be gesturing
he/she/it will be gesturing
we will be gesturing
you will be gesturing
they will be gesturing
Present Perfect Continuous
I have been gesturing
you have been gesturing
he/she/it has been gesturing
we have been gesturing
you have been gesturing
they have been gesturing
Future Perfect Continuous
I will have been gesturing
you will have been gesturing
he/she/it will have been gesturing
we will have been gesturing
you will have been gesturing
they will have been gesturing
Past Perfect Continuous
I had been gesturing
you had been gesturing
he/she/it had been gesturing
we had been gesturing
you had been gesturing
they had been gesturing
Conditional
I would gesture
you would gesture
he/she/it would gesture
we would gesture
you would gesture
they would gesture
Past Conditional
I would have gestured
you would have gestured
he/she/it would have gestured
we would have gestured
you would have gestured
they would have gestured
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.gesture - motion of hands or body to emphasize or help to express a thought or feelinggesture - motion of hands or body to emphasize or help to express a thought or feeling
movement, 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
wafture, waving, wave - the act of signaling by a movement of the hand
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
curtsey, curtsy - bending the knees; a gesture of respect made by women
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"
Verb1.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
clap, spat - clap one's hands together; "The children were clapping to the music"
communicate, intercommunicate - transmit thoughts or feelings; "He communicated his anxieties to the psychiatrist"
applaud, acclaim, clap, spat - clap one's hands or shout after performances to indicate approval
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!"
beckon, wave - signal with the hands or nod; "She waved to her friends"; "He waved his hand hospitably"
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
1. signal, sign, wave, indicate, motion, beckon, gesticulate I gestured towards the boathouse and he looked inside.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

gesture

noun
1. An expressive, meaningful bodily movement:
Informal: high sign.
2. Something that takes the place of words in communicating a thought or feeling:
verb
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.
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
1. (lit) → ademán m, gesto m
2. (fig) → demostración f; (= small token) → muestra f, detalle m
what a nice gesture!¡qué gesto or detalle más agradable!
as a gesture of friendshipen señal de amistad
as a gesture of supportpara demostrar nuestro apoyo
empty gesturepura formalidad f
B. VIhacer gestos
he gestured towards the doorseñaló or apuntó hacia la puerta
to gesture to sb to do sthindicar a algn con la mano que haga algo
C. VTexpresar con un ademán
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
(= movement) → geste m
to make a gesture (lit)faire un geste
(= symbolic action) → geste m
a symbolic gesture → un geste symbolique
as a gesture to sth [+ security] → par mesure de qch
(= sign) [goodwill, support] → signe m
as a gesture of friendship → en témoignage d'amitié
to do sth as a gesture of sth [support, defiance] → faire qch en signe de qch; [goodwill] → faire qch en gage de qch
vifaire un geste
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

gesture

n (lit, fig)Geste f; to make a gestureeine Geste machen; a gesture of defiance/approvaleine herausfordernde/zustimmende Geste; as a gesture of support/goodwillals Zeichen der Unterstützung/des guten Willens; his use of gestureseine Gestik
vigestikulieren; to gesture at somebody/somethingauf jdn/etw deuten; he gestured with his head toward(s) the safeer deutete mit dem Kopf auf den Safe
vt to gesture somebody to do somethingjdm bedeuten or zu verstehen geben, etw zu tun
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]
1. ngesto
as a gesture of friendship → in segno d'amicizia
2. vi he gestured towards the doorfece un gesto verso la porta
to gesture to sb to do sth → far segno a qn di fare qc
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.gesto
verb
to make a gesture or gestures. He gestured to her to keep quiet. hacer un gesto/gestos, hacer una señal/señales
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.

gesture

gesto
Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009

ges·ture

n. gesto, ademán.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
References in classic literature ?
He went up to him quickly, received the comte in his arms, and as they were not yet sufficiently distant from the house for the servants, who had remained at the door to watch their master's departure, not to perceive the disorder in the usually regular proceeding of the comte, the valet called his comrades by gestures and voice, and all hastened to his assistance.
He seemed to express himself with difficulty, as though words were not the medium with which his mind worked; and you had to guess the intentions of his soul by hackneyed phrases, slang, and vague, unfinished gestures. But though he said nothing of any consequence, there was something in his personality which prevented him from being dull.
All times and peoples gaze divers-coloured out of your veils; all customs and beliefs speak divers-coloured out of your gestures.
Then there was established between them a strange dialogue of signs and gestures, for neither of them spoke.
With large gestures and in the emphatic tone which made what he said so striking, Athelny described to Philip the Spanish cathedrals with their vast dark spaces, the massive gold of the altar-pieces, and the sumptuous iron-work, gilt and faded, the air laden with incense, the silence: Philip almost saw the Canons in their short surplices of lawn, the acolytes in red, passing from the sacristy to the choir; he almost heard the monotonous chanting of vespers.
The grief and consternation of Kory-Kory, in particular, was unbounded; he threw himself into a perfect paroxysm of gestures which were intended to convey to us not only his abhorrence of Nukuheva and its uncivilized inhabitants, but also his astonishment that after becoming acquainted with the enlightened Typees, we should evince the least desire to withdraw, even for a time, from their agreeable society.
Some ran furiously to the water's edge, beating the air with frantic gestures, while others spat upon the element, to resent the supposed treason it had committed against their acknowledged rights as conquerors.
Tom and Ned found it difficult to comprehend all the rapid Spanish spoken by their host, but they managed to understand some, and his eloquent gestures made up the rest.
Madame coquetted with him in the most captivating and naive manner, with eyes, gestures, and a profusion of compliments, till the Colonel's old head felt thirty years younger on his padded shoulders.
"The King of Rome!" he said, pointing to the portrait with a graceful gesture. "Admirable!"
"It will give me great pleasure, sir," said the Owner of a Silver Mine, "to serve one so closely allied to me in - in - well, you know," he added, with a significant gesture of his two hands upward from the sides of his head.
Hook rallied his dogs with a gesture. "'S'death and odds fish," he thundered, "who is to bring me that doodle-doo?"