tongue
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: ipa: /tʌŋ/
ipa: /tʊŋ/
note: UK, Manchester, Liverpool
ipa: /tɒŋɡ/
note: UK, Manchester, Liverpool
ipa: /tʊŋɡ/
rhymes: -ʌŋ
Forms: form: tongues
form: tonguing
form: tongued
form: tongued
form: tounge
form: tung
form: tong
form: tonge
form: toong
form: toongue
form: toung
form: toungue
form: tunge
Etymology: From Middle English tonge, tunge, tung, from Old English tunge, from Proto-West Germanic *tungā, from Proto-Germanic *tungǭ (“tongue”) (compare Scots tung (“tongue”), West Frisian tonge (“tongue”), Saterland Frisian Tunge (“tongue”), Cimbrian zung (“tongue”), Dutch tong (“tongue”), German Zunge (“tongue; language”), Luxembourgish Zong (“tongue”), Vilamovian cung (“tongue”), Yiddish צונג (tsung, “tongue”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål and Norwegian Nynorsk tunge (“tongue; language, speech”), Faroese, Icelandic and Swedish tunga (“tongue; language, speech”), Gothic 𐍄𐌿𐌲𐌲𐍉 (tuggō)), from Proto-Indo-European *dn̥ǵʰwéh₂s. Cognate with Old Irish tengae, Latin lingua, Tocharian A käntu, Tocharian B kantwo, Lithuanian liežùvis, Russian язык (jazyk), Polish język, Old Armenian լեզու (lezu), Avestan 𐬵𐬌𐬰𐬎𐬎𐬁 (hizuuā), Persian زبان (zabân), Ashkun žū, Kamkata-viri dić, diz, Prasuni luzuk, Sanskrit जिह्वा (jihvā́). Doublet of language and lingua.
It has been noted by many over the centuries that the word's spelling, were it true to pronunciation or etymology, would be tung (which is indeed a rare alternative spelling). The spelling with -ue at the end came about in the late Middle English period, seemingly to keep the word from being misread with a soft g (that is, /dʒ/) since -e was still needed to show the word-final vowel that has now been lost. The use of u to harden g is adopted from the Romance spelling principle, with one example indeed being the French cognate langue (“tongue”), whose u is however etymological.
Senses: examples: text: Playing wind instruments involves tonguing on the reed or mouthpiece.
topics: entertainment
lifestyle
music
glosses: On a wind instrument, to articulate a note by starting the air with a tap of the tongue, as though by speaking a 'd' or 't' sound (alveolar plosive).
examples: text: [T]he cattle tongued at the damp grass, licking rather than grazing. […]
ref: 1985, Benjamin Capps, The Trail to Ogallala, TCU Press, →ISBN, page 88:
glosses: To manipulate with the tongue.
examples: text: Hot I tongued her. She kissed me. I was kissed. All yielding she tossed my hair. Kissed, she kissed me.
ref: 1922 February, James Joyce, “[8]”, in Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company, […], →OCLC:
text: I was tonguing her ear and serenading her in a passionate whisper, mimicking Elvis, mimicking Joey.
ref: 1986 May 6, T.C. Boyle, Greasy Lake and Other Stories, Penguin, →ISBN:
text: I was tonguing her sweet spot. "Shit, that's nice." Her breaths got faster as we locked into a delicious rhythm that was hitting my clit just right.
ref: 2024 October 29, Adriana Herrera, Heat and Run: A Steamy F/F/F Omegaverse Novella, Adriana Herrera:
glosses: To manipulate with the tongue.
To lick, penetrate or manipulate with the tongue during flirting or oral sex.
examples: text: a soil horizon that tongues into clay
glosses: To protrude in relatively long, narrow sections.
examples: text: to tongue boards together
glosses: To join by means of a tongue and groove.
glosses: To talk; to prate.
examples: text: ’Tis still a dream, or else such stuff as madmen
Tongue and brain not;
ref: 1611 April (first recorded performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Cymbeline”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene iv]:
glosses: To speak; to utter.
examples: text: How might she tongue me!
ref: c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Measure for Measure”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iv]:
glosses: To chide; to scold.
Derived terms: sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: acid-tongued
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: adder's tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: adder's-tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: advanced tongue root
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: beardtongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: beef tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: betongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: bird's-tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: birth tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: birth-tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: bite one's tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: blabtongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: blab-tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: black hairy tongue syndrome
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: blue-tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: bluetongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: blue-tongued skink
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: blue-tongue lizard
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: bonytongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: bridle one's tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: burning tongue syndrome
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: cat got someone's tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: cat tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: cat's tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: civil tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: click one's tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: cloverleaf tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: cluck one's tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: deer's tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: devil's tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: disc-tongued frog
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: dog's tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: double-tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: double-tongued
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: double-tonguing
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: drop-tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: earth-tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: earth tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: father tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: find one's tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: flamingo tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: flutter tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: flutter-tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: foreign tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: forked tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: geographic tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: gift of tongues
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: give tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: goosetongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: goose tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: guard one's tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: hart's tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: have something on the tip of one's tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: hold one's tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: honey-tongued
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: hound's tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: hound's-tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: ice tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: intertongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: jury of half-tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: keep a civil tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: keep a civil tongue in one's head
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: keep a civil tongue in one's mouth
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: keep a quiet tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: lamb's tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: lark's tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: law of the tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: lay one's tongue to
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: long-tongued
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: loosen one's tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: loosen someone's tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: loose tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: lose one's tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: milk tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: mother-in-law's tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: mother tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: mother-tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: native tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: on one's tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: on the tip of one's tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: outtongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: oxtongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: ox tongue spear
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: painted drop tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: put a civil tongue in one's head
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: put a civil tongue in one's mouth
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: put one's tongue out
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: raspberry tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: red strawberry tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: retracted tongue root
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: roll from one's tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: roll from the tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: roll off one's tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: roll off the tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: root of the tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: run from the tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: run off the tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: serpent's tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: sharp end of one's tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: sharp tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: sharp-tongued
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: silver tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: silver-tongued
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: slip off someone's tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: slip of the tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: smooth-tongued
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: snake's tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: speaking in tongues
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: speak in tongues
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: speak with a forked tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: stick one's tongue out
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: strawberry tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: take one's tongue out of someone's ass
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: the rough side of one's tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: the tongue of scandal
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: the tongue wounds more than a lance
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: thick tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: thick-tongued
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tonguage
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tongue and groove
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tongue-and-groove
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tongue-and-groove pliers
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tongue-bath
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tongue bath
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tongue bone
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tongue-boring
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tongue clacker
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tongue-clacker
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tongue clacking
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tongue depressor
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tonguedness
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tonguedom
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tongue drum
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tongue firmly in cheek
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tonguefish
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tonguefuck
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tongue in cheek
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tongue-in-cheek
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tongue-in-chic
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tongue in chic
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tonguejob
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tongue kiss
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tongue-lash
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tongue lashing
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tongue-lashing
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tongueless
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tonguelet
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tonguelike
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tongue-lolling
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tongue-lolling bit
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tonguely
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tongueman
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tongue map
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tongueness
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tongue-pad
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tongue punch
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tongue-punch
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tongue ring
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tongue rolling
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tongue run away with one
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tongue sandwich
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tongue sarnie
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tongue-shaped
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tongue-shell
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tongueship
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tongue sole
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tonguesore
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tongues-speaker
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tonguester
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tongue stone
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tongue sushi
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tongue technology
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tongue thrust
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tongue-tie
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tongue tie
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tongue-tied
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tongue toast
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tongue troopers
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tongue twister
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tongue-twister
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tongue-work
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tonguework
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tongue worm
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tongueworm
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tonguey
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: tonguing
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: trip from the tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: trip off the tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: twi-tongued
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: two-tongued
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: untongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: vaper's tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: venomous-tongued
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: wag one's tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: watch one's tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: whet one's tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: white tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: wicked tongue
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: with one's tongue in one's cheek
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: with tongue in cheek
sense: Terms derived from the noun or verb tongue
word: woman's tongue tree
Related terms: gloss-
glossal
lingual
linguiform
linguo-