lingual

[ ling-gwuhl ]

adjective

1. of or relating to the tongue or some tonguelike part.
2. pertaining to languages.
3. Phonetics. articulated with the aid of the tongue, especially the tip of the tongue, as d, n, s, or r.

noun

1. Phonetics. a lingual sound.

lingual

/ ˈlɪŋɡwəl /

adjective

1. anatomy of or relating to the tongue or a part or structure resembling a tongue
2. 1. of or relating to language or languages
   2. ( in combination )

      polylingual

3. articulated with the tongue

noun

1. a lingual consonant, such as Scots ( r )

Derived Forms

• ˈlingually, adverb

Other Words From

• lingual·ly adverb
• pre·lingual adjective
• pre·lingual·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of lingual¹

1350–1400; Middle English: tongue-shaped surgical instrument < Medieval Latin linguālis. See lingua, -al ¹

Example Sentences

Fiona and Ben were told by a midwife that they would be better off getting tongue-tie surgery, also known as a lingual frenotomy, privately, as there would be a long wait on the NHS.

From BBC

He also suggested Patient A underwent a lingual tongue-tie release, which he said would allow her to rest with her tongue on the roof of her mouth and strengthen the jaw.

From BBC

It seemed likely that the author was aware of the potential of those words to challenge “She sells sea shells by the sea shore” in the lingual dexterity sweepstakes.

From Washington Post

Davies’ gift for caustic witticisms is at its full strength in these scenes, in which Siegfried, for all his own lingual flair, is often overmatched by his paramours for sheer drawing-room-comedy vitriol.

From Los Angeles Times

She reached for a bit of lingual antiquity and metaphor that tracks closely to her own move to Vermont.

From New York Times

Related Words

• audiovisual
• auditory
• aural
• neural
• neurological
• olfactory
• sensual
• sonic
• tactile
• visual