gesture means A motion of the limbs or body, especially one made to emphasize speech.
gesture is pronounced /ˈd͡ʒɛs.t͡ʃə/.
Why “gesture” is a great word
A movement of the body, especially of the hand or head, employed to convey an idea or meaning. From Medieval Latin gestūra ('a mode of action, bearing'), from Latin gerō ('to bear, carry on, (reflexive) to conduct oneself'), past participle gestus. Unlike a 'posture,' which is a static and often habitual stance, or a 'signal,' a broader, often pre-arranged sign, a gesture is a dynamic, intimate, and embodied articulation. It is the sudden arc of a hand halting a car, the tender brush of a thumb across a tear-stained cheek, or the unconscious tapping of fingers that betrays the mind's hidden arithmetic—the body's transient, eloquent dialect for when words have failed or fallen short, speaking not just to be seen, but to be felt.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin gestūra (“a mode of action”), from Latin gerō (“to bear; (reflexive) bear oneself, behave, act”), past participle gestus. By surface analysis, Latin gest- + -ure.
noun
- A motion of the limbs or body, especially one made to emphasize speech.e.g.“The middle-finger gesture is really a nonverbal swear.”
- An act or a remark that serves as a formality or as a sign of attitude.e.g.“We took flowers as a gesture of sympathy.”
- A motion made with a pointing device, or on a touchscreen, that is recognised by the system as a command.e.g.“This Web browser can be controlled with mouse gestures.”
- The manner of carrying the body; position of the body or limbs; posture.e.g.“Accubation, or lying down at meals, was a gesture used by very many nations.”
verb
- To make a gesture or gestures.e.g.“My dad told me never to gesture with my hands when I talk.”
- To express (something) by a gesture or gestures.e.g.“He gestured his disgust.”
- To accompany or illustrate with gesture or action.e.g.“It is not orderly read, nor gestured as beseemeth.”
- To express or signal (to someone) by a gesture or gestures (to do something, go somewhere, etc).
Words closest in meaning
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