Library / English Dictionary

GESTURE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

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)

Derivation:

gesticulate; gesture (show, express or direct through movement)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Something done as an indication of intention

Example:

a gesture of defiance

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

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)

Sense 3

Meaning:

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

Synonyms:

gesture; motion

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

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

visual communication (communication that relies on vision)

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

curtsey; curtsy (bending the knees; a gesture of respect made by women)

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 or greeting)

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)

flourish (a showy gesture)

facial expression; facial gesture (a gesture executed with the facial muscles)

beck (a beckoning gesture)

gesticulation (a deliberate and vigorous gesture or motion)

sign (a gesture that is part of a sign language)

Derivation:

gesticulate; gesture (show, express or direct through movement)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Show, express or direct through movement

Example:

He gestured his desire to leave

Synonyms:

gesticulate; gesture; motion

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

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

communicate; intercommunicate (transmit thoughts or feelings)

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

beckon; wave (signal with the hands or nod)

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)

Sentence frames:

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

Derivation:

gesture (motion of hands or body to emphasize or help to express a thought or feeling)

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

Credits

 Context examples: 

He stopped her with an impatient gesture that was not followed by speech.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

They seemed much surprised at my appearance, but instead of offering me any assistance, whispered together with gestures that at any other time might have produced in me a slight sensation of alarm.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

My uncle shrugged his shoulders carelessly, and took a pinch of his snuff with that inimitable sweeping gesture which no man has ever ventured to imitate.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Miss Miller was now the only teacher in the room: a group of great girls standing about her spoke with serious and sullen gestures.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Is not she an angel in every gesture?

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

To have seen you grow like the Admiral in word or deed, look or gesture, would have broken my heart.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Then with a sudden impulsive gesture he plucked a photograph from his breast-pocket and threw it on the rustic table before us.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

We saw him peep over them and give a gesture of amazement.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

His eyes flashed, however, and he shook his bony hand with a fierce wild gesture after the retreating figure.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

A systematic means of communicating by the use of sounds, symbols, or gestures.

(Language, NCI Thesaurus)