tongues

Noun

tongue (countable and uncountable, plural tongues)

1. The flexible muscular organ in the mouth that is used to move food around, for tasting and that is moved into various positions to modify the flow of air from the lungs in order to produce different sounds in speech.
   • But lering and lurking here and there like ſpies,c. 1515–1516, published 1568, John Skelton, Againſt venemous tongues enpoyſoned with ſclaunder and falſe detractions &c.

   Synonyms:

   glossa, lingua

2. Such an organ, as taken from animals and used for food (especially from cows).
   • cold tongue with mustard
3. Any similar organ, such as the lingual ribbon, or odontophore, of a mollusk; the proboscis of a moth or butterfly; or the lingua of an insect.
4. (metonymically) A language.
   • He was speaking in his native tongue.

   Synonyms:

   idiom, language, lingo

5. (obsolete) The speakers of a language, collectively.
   • I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Isaiah 66:18
6. (obsolete) A voice, (the distinctive sound of a person's speech); accent (distinctive manner of pronouncing a language).
   • Who are you? Tell me, for more certainty,
     Albeit I’ll swear that I do know your tongue.c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward]...

See all 36 meanings of tongue