worde
A1Neutral (used in all registers)
Definition
Meaning
A single distinct meaningful element of speech or writing, used with others to form sentences.
A brief statement, a promise, a unit of data in a computer, a piece of news, or a command. Also used in the phrase 'have a word' meaning to speak briefly with someone.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The plural 'words' can refer to speech or text more generally, as in 'He didn't mean those words.' It is also used in idioms to signify promises ('keep your word'), arguments ('have words with someone'), and news ('word on the street').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal differences in core meaning. The idiom 'not a word' (meaning say nothing) is slightly more common in BrE. The spelling of compound words (e.g., 'wordplay' vs. 'word play') may vary slightly but is not systematic.
Connotations
Identical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally high-frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
have a word with someonekeep one's wordbreak one's wordput in a good word for someonein other wordsVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “in a word”
- “from the word go”
- “word for word”
- “take someone at their word”
- “words fail me”
- “a word in edgeways”
- “the last word”
- “a man of his word”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in phrases like 'get the word out' (marketing), 'as good as his word' (reliability), and 'wording of a contract'.
Academic
Used as a countable unit in linguistics ('a polysemous word') and in general instruction ('define the following words').
Everyday
Extremely common for referring to language units, promises ('I give you my word'), and brief conversations ('Can I have a word?').
Technical
In computing, a 'word' is a fixed-sized piece of data handled as a unit by the processor.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She carefully worded the email to avoid causing offence.
- How would you word that question differently?
American English
- He worded the contract very precisely.
- The statement was poorly worded and confusing.
adjective
British English
- It was a word-for-word translation.
- They had a word-play competition.
American English
- He gave a word-for-word account.
- She enjoys word games like Scrabble.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- This is a new word for me.
- What is the word for 'book' in English?
- He said a kind word.
- I don't understand the meaning of this word.
- Can I have a word with you after class?
- She always keeps her word.
- The wording of the law is deliberately vague.
- In other words, the project has been cancelled.
- Words were exchanged, and the meeting became quite heated.
- The author is a master of the mot juste, the perfectly chosen word.
- His public pronouncements are always meticulously worded to avoid commitment.
- The semantic shift of that word over centuries is fascinating.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'World' without the 'l' – a 'word' is a small world of meaning.
Conceptual Metaphor
WORDS ARE OBJECTS (coin a word, borrow a word); WORDS ARE WEAPONS (sharp words, a war of words); WORDS ARE CONTAINERS (empty words, words full of meaning).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid using 'word' to translate Russian 'слова' in the sense of 'lyrics' (use 'lyrics' or 'text').
- In 'have a word with', it means a brief talk, not just saying one word.
- The idiom 'big word' often implies a complex, pretentious term, not necessarily a long one.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect plural in compounds: 'words processing' instead of 'word processing'.
- Confusing 'word' (unit of language) with 'verb' (part of speech).
- Using 'a word' to mean any length of speech (e.g., 'He said a long word about politics' is incorrect).
Practice
Quiz
What does the idiom 'from the word go' mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily, yes, but it can also be a verb (to phrase something) and appears in adjective compounds (e.g., word processing).
A 'term' often implies a word or phrase used in a specific, technical, or defined context (e.g., a legal term, scientific term), while 'word' is the general linguistic unit.
It means to have a brief, often private, conversation with someone, usually about a specific matter. Example: 'Manager, may I have a word about the schedule?'
No, 'words' is the plural form. The singular is always 'word'. However, 'words' can refer to speech/text collectively (e.g., 'His words were comforting').