oral
oral Lexical Profile
oral Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Spoken rather than written; communicated or conducted by word of mouth.
"The historian spent several years recording the oral traditions of the indigenous community."
Relating to, affecting, or administered through the mouth.
"Good oral hygiene, including regular brushing and flossing, helps prevent gum disease."
• noun
A spoken examination, especially one in which a student or candidate answers questions in person before a panel of examiners.
"She passed her written French exam easily, but she was still nervous about the upcoming oral."
Word Nuance & Usage
"Oral" is frequently confused with two distinct words: "aural" (a homophone referring to the ears or hearing) and "verbal" (which refers to words in general, whether spoken or written, whereas "oral" applies strictly to spoken words).
• Rhymes for oral
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the early 17th century from Late Latin oralis, derived from Latin os, oris meaning "mouth" or "speech."