Tongue Meaning
Tongue Definition & Usage
The muscular organ in the mouth that is used for tasting, swallowing, and speaking.
Examples
- "She stuck out her tongue in disbelief when she tasted the sour lemon."
- "The doctor asked him to stick out his tongue for examination."
- "He spoke with great fluency, his tongue moving swiftly as he delivered his speech."
- "After biting his tongue, he winced in pain and could hardly speak."
- "The baby could barely move her tongue as she began to learn how to eat solids."
A way of speaking, especially in a particular language or dialect.
Examples
- "His tongue switched effortlessly between English and French."
- "She speaks with a soft tongue, always polite and gentle."
- "The children learned to speak in their native tongue before they learned any other language."
- "The dialect of that region has a very unique tongue, hard to understand for outsiders."
- "He had a sharp tongue, always ready to make a cutting remark."
To move or touch with the tongue.
Examples
- "She tongued the lollipop slowly, savoring the sweetness."
- "He tongued the roof of his mouth, trying to remember the word."
- "The dog eagerly tongued the treat I gave it."
- "He tongued the edge of the envelope, sealing it with his saliva."
- "She tongued her lips, savoring the taste of the warm drink."
Cultural Context
The word 'tongue' has ancient origins, with its roots in the Old English 'tunge,' which is related to the Proto-Germanic and Indo-European words for speech and the physical organ itself. It has evolved over centuries to encompass both anatomical and figurative meanings.
The Secret of the Ancient Tongue
Story
The Secret of the Ancient Tongue
A young linguist, Emily, was tasked with translating a mysterious manuscript found in a cave. The manuscript, written in an ancient language, appeared to be a guide to unlocking a long-forgotten treasure. Emily spent days poring over the text, but it wasn’t the words that intrigued her—it was the peculiar mention of 'the tongue of the earth.' As she continued her work, she realized that this was a metaphor for understanding the true nature of language itself, where each word spoke to the very soul of its speaker. 'The tongue,' as Emily discovered, was not just a tool for speaking; it was a bridge between thought and communication, a key to unlocking the hidden meanings of the universe itself. One day, while walking through a small village, Emily met an elderly woman who spoke in a peculiar dialect. It was a tongue Emily had never heard before, but it struck a chord in her. The words felt ancient and powerful, as if they carried with them the wisdom of generations. With the help of this new dialect, Emily was finally able to decipher the manuscript and uncover the treasure. However, the real treasure was the knowledge she gained about the power of language, and how the tongue—both literal and figurative—holds the secrets to understanding the world around us.
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