oral

[ awr-uh l, ohr- ]
/ ˈɔr əl, ˈoʊr- /

adjective

noun

an oral examination in a school, college, or university, given especially to a candidate for an advanced degree.

Origin of oral

1615–25; < Latin ōr- (stem of ōs) mouth (cognate with Sanskrit āsya) + -al1

usage note for oral

1. See verbal.

OTHER WORDS FROM oral

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH oral

oral aural

Example sentences from the Web for oral

British Dictionary definitions for oral

oral
/ (ˈɔːrəl, ˈɒrəl) /

adjective

noun

an examination in which the questions and answers are spoken rather than written

Derived forms of oral

orally, adverb

Word Origin for oral

C17: from Late Latin orālis, from Latin ōs face

Medical definitions for oral

oral
[ ôrəl ]

adj.

Of or relating to the mouth.
Used in or taken through the mouth.
Of or relating to the first stage of psychosexual development in psychoanalytic theory, in which the mouth is the focus of exploration and pleasure.

Other words from oral

oral•ly adv.

Scientific definitions for oral

oral
[ ôrəl ]

Relating to or involving the mouth.