Gesture Meaning
/ˈd͡ʒɛs.t͡ʃə/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounA motion of the limbs or body, especially one made to emphasize speech.
nounAn act or a remark that serves as a formality or as a sign of attitude.
Sentence Examples
We communicated with each other by gesture.
The gesture fetched a laugh from the audience.
He made a rude gesture at the driver of the other car.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
She made a friendly ____ by slowly waving her hand.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Sending a handwritten thank-you note is a simple ____ that can show a person how much you appreciate them.
Word Origin & History
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.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Grace was in all her steps, heaven in her eye, / In every gesture dignity and love."
— 1667, John Milton, “Book VII”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
"Hand gestures are also essential to Belter communication, as they evolved from the days of wearing space suits with poor comms during the early settler days."
— 2016 January 15, Bryan Enk, “Belter Creole 101”, in SYFY:
"But, with a gesture, she put a period to this dalliance—one shouldn't palter so on an empty stomach, she might almost have said."
— 1922, Michael Arlen, “2/4/1”, in “Piracy”: A Romantic Chronicle of These Days:
"Accubation, or lying down at meals, was a gesture used by very many nations."
— 1650, Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica: […], 2nd edition, London: […] A[braham] Miller, for Edw[ard] Dod and Nath[aniel] Ekins, […], →OCLC:
"It is not orderly read, nor gestured as beseemeth."
— [1594], Richard Hooker, edited by J[ohn] S[penser], Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie, […], London: […] Iohn Windet, […], →OCLC, (please specify the page):
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
She made a friendly ____ by slowly waving her hand.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Sending a handwritten thank-you note is a simple ____ that can show a person how much you appreciate them.