Definition of ORAL

oral

Plural: orals

Noun

  • An examination conducted verbally, requiring spoken answers.
  • an examination conducted by spoken communication
  • A spoken test or examination, particularly in a language class.
  • A physical examination of the mouth.
  • Ellipsis of oral sex.
  • Ellipsis of oral steroid.

Adjective Satellite

  • using speech rather than writing
    • "an oral tradition"
    • "an oral agreement"

Adjective

  • of or relating to or affecting or for use in the mouth
    • "oral hygiene"
    • "an oral thermometer"
    • "an oral vaccine"
  • of or involving the mouth or mouth region or the surface on which the mouth is located
    • "the oral cavity"
    • "the oral mucous membrane"
    • "the oral surface of a starfish"
  • a stage in psychosexual development when the child's interest is concentrated in the mouth; fixation at this stage is said to result in dependence, selfishness, and aggression

Adj

  • Relating to the mouth.
  • Relating to the mouth.
  • Done or taken by the mouth.
  • Relating to the mouth.
  • Pronounced by the voice resonating in the mouth, as the vowels in English.
  • Relating to the mouth.
  • Relating to or denoting a stage of infantile psychosexual development during which libidinal gratification is derived from intake (as of food), by sucking, and later by biting.
  • Relating to the mouth.
  • Of, relating to, or characterized by personality traits of passive dependency and aggressiveness.
  • Spoken rather than written.
  • Spoken rather than written.
  • Relating to the transmission of information or literature by word of mouth.
  • Spoken rather than written.
  • Using speech or the lips especially in teaching the deaf.
  • Spoken rather than written.
  • Not having reached the stage of literacy.

Examples

  • an oral French exam
  • an oral presentation
  • I gave my boyfriend oral for the first time on his birthday.
  • oral hygiene
  • oral sex
  • Some players prefer an oral recounting of rules, rather than reading the Scrabble rulebook.
  • We've got our Spanish oral tomorrow.

Origin / Etymology

PIE word
*h₁óh₃s
Early 17th century borrowing from Late Latin ōrālis, from ōs (“the mouth”) + -ālis (“-al”, adjectival suffix).

Synonyms

oral exam, oral examination, unwritten, viva, viva voce, mouthly, spoken, verbal

Antonyms

aboral, anal, written

Scrabble Score: 4

oral: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
oral: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
oral: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 5

oral: valid Words With Friends Word