tonguing

[ tuhng-ing ]

noun

, Music.

1. the manipulation of the tongue in playing a wind instrument to interrupt the tone and produce a staccato effect.

tonguing

/ ˈtʌŋɪŋ /

noun

1. a technique of articulating notes on a wind instrument See single-tongue double-tongue triple-tongue

Word History and Origins

Origin of tonguing¹

First recorded in 1805–15; tongue + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

The dog tackled Rutilio and gave his face a thorough tonguing.

From Literature

Nurses and jail deputies make sure that inmates aren’t “cheeking” or “tonguing” the narcotics to give them to other inmates.

From Los Angeles Times

The sheer mutability of his tonguing creates a seductive flow that is indeed the ideal of song.

From Los Angeles Times

A skinny woman was eating a cupcake and talking on her phone, tonguing the icing as if she were on ecstasy.

From New York Times

The strike of a hammer on the calf’s exposed femur revealed marrow with no resemblance to the pasty, whitish substance that domestic dogs are so fond of tonguing out of animal bones.

From Washington Times