tonguing

[ tuhng-ing ]

/ ˈtʌŋ ɪŋ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR tonguing ON THESAURUS.COM

noun Music.

the manipulation of the tongue in playing a wind instrument to interrupt the tone and produce a staccato effect.

Origin of tonguing

First recorded in 1805–15; tongue + -ing¹

Words nearby tonguing

tongue-tie, tongue-tied, tongued, tonguefish, tongues wag, tonguing, tonguing-and-grooving plane, tongzhou, toni, tonic, tonic accent

Definition for tonguing (2 of 2)

tongue

[ tuhng ]

/ tʌŋ /

noun

Anatomy. the usually movable organ in the floor of the mouth in humans and most vertebrates, functioning in eating, in tasting, and, in humans, in speaking.

Zoology. an analogous organ in invertebrate animals.

the tongue of an animal, as an ox, beef, or sheep, used for food, often prepared by smoking or pickling.

the human tongue as the organ of speech: No tongue must ever tell the secret.

the faculty or power of speech: a sight no tongue can describe.

speech or talk, especially mere glib or empty talk.

manner or character of speech: a flattering tongue.

the language of a particular people, region, or nation: the Hebrew tongue.

a dialect.

(in the Bible) a people or nation distinguished by its language.

tongues, speech, often incomprehensible, typically uttered during moments of religious ecstasy. Compare speaking in tongues, glossolalia.

an object that resembles an animal's tongue in shape, position, or function.

a strip of leather or other material under the lacing or fastening of a shoe.

a piece of metal suspended inside a bell that strikes against the side producing a sound; clapper.

a vibrating reed or similar structure in a musical instrument, as in a clarinet, or in part of a musical instrument, as in an organ reed pipe.

the pole extending from a carriage or other vehicle between the animals drawing it.

a projecting strip along the center of the edge or end of a board, for fitting into a groove in another board.

a narrow strip of land extending into a body of water; cape.

a section of ice projecting outward from the submerged part of an iceberg.

Machinery. a long, narrow projection on a machine.

that part of a railroad switch that is shifted to direct the wheels of a locomotive or car to one or the other track of a railroad.

the pin of a buckle, brooch, etc.

verb (used with object), tongued, tongu·ing.

to articulate (tones played on a clarinet, trumpet, etc.) by strokes of the tongue.

Carpentry.

to cut a tongue on (a board).
to join or fit together by a tongue-and-groove joint.

to touch with the tongue.

to articulate or pronounce.

Archaic.

to reproach or scold.
to speak or utter.

verb (used without object), tongued, tongu·ing.

to tongue tones played on a clarinet, trumpet, etc.

to talk, especially idly or foolishly; chatter; prate.

to project like a tongue.

Origin of tongue

before 900; (noun) Middle English tunge, Old English; cognate with Dutch tong, German Zunge, Old Norse tunga, Gothic tuggo; akin to Latin lingua (OL dingua); (v.) Middle English tungen to scold, derivative of the noun

OTHER WORDS FROM tongue

tongue·less, adjective tongue·like, adjective out·tongue, verb (used with object), out·tongued, out·tongu·ing. un·tongued, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH tongue

thong tong tongue

Example sentences from the Web for tonguing

For tonguing, the bit shown in Fig. 2744 is employed, the depth gauge g being adjustable in the groove by means of the slot shown.

Modern Machine-Shop Practice, Volumes I and II |Joshua Rose
It did sound like a cornet, even to the tremolo and the tonguing.

McClure's Magazine, Vol. 31, No. 1, May 1908 |Various
But the "view halloo" was quickly dropped and the tonguing of the dog was now in short, high-pitched yelps at one place.

Two Little Savages |Ernest Thompson Seton
Don't be afraid to switch a young dog some, to make him learn good from bad, like tonguing track and rabbit.

Hunting Dogs |Oliver Hartley

Tonguing and grooving can be used in such cases, but flashing with lead is a simpler process.

Woodworking for Beginners |Charles Gardner Wheeler

British Dictionary definitions for tonguing (1 of 2)

tonguing

/ (ˈtʌŋɪŋ) /

noun

a technique of articulating notes on a wind instrument See single-tongue, double-tongue, triple-tongue

British Dictionary definitions for tonguing (2 of 2)

tongue

/ (tʌŋ) /

noun

a movable mass of muscular tissue attached to the floor of the mouth in most vertebrates. It is the organ of taste and aids the mastication and swallowing of food. In man it plays an important part in the articulation of speech sounds Related adjectives: glottic, lingual

an analogous organ in invertebrates

the tongue of certain animals used as food

a language, dialect, or idiom the English tongue

the ability to speak to lose one's tongue

a manner of speaking a glib tongue

utterance or voice (esp in the phrase give tongue)

(plural) See gift of tongues

anything which resembles a tongue in shape or function a tongue of flame; a tongue of the sea

a promontory or spit of land

a flap of leather on a shoe, either for decoration or under the laces or buckles to protect the instep

music the reed of an oboe or similar instrument

the clapper of a bell

the harnessing pole of a horse-drawn vehicle

a long and narrow projection on a machine or structural part that serves as a guide for assembly or as a securing device

a projecting strip along an edge of a board that is made to fit a corresponding groove in the edge of another board

hold one's tongue to keep quiet

on the tip of one's tongue about to come to mind her name was on the tip of his tongue

with one's tongue in one's cheek or tongue in cheek with insincere or ironical intent

verb tongues, tonguing or tongued

to articulate (notes played on a wind instrument) by the process of tonguing

(tr) to lick, feel, or touch with the tongue

(tr) carpentry to provide (a board) with a tongue

(intr) (of a piece of land) to project into a body of water

(tr) obsolete to reproach; scold

Derived forms of tongue

tongueless, adjective tonguelike, adjective

Word Origin for tongue

Old English tunge; related to Old Saxon, Old Norse tunga, Old High German zunga, Latin lingua

Medical definitions for tonguing

tongue

[ tŭng ]

n.

A mobile mass of muscular tissue that is covered with mucous membrane, occupies much of the cavity of the mouth, forms part of its floor, bears the organ of taste, and assists in chewing, swallowing, and speech.

Scientific definitions for tonguing

tongue

[ tŭng ]

A muscular organ in most vertebrates that is usually attached to the bottom of the mouth. In snakes, the tongue is used as a sense organ. In frogs, the tongue is chiefly used to capture prey. In mammals, the tongue is the main organ of taste and is an important organ of digestion. In humans, the tongue is used to produce speech.

A similar organ in certain invertebrate animals.

Idioms and Phrases with tonguing

tongue

In addition to the idioms beginning with tongue

tongue hangs out, one's
tongue in cheek, with
tongues wag

also see:

bite one's tongue
cat got someone's tongue
hold one's tongue
keep a civil tongue
on the tip of one's tongue
slip of the lip (tongue)

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

tonguing

noun Music.

Origin of tonguing

Words nearby tonguing

Definition for tonguing (2 of 2)

noun

verb (used with object), tongued, tongu·ing.

verb (used without object), tongued, tongu·ing.

Origin of tongue

OTHER WORDS FROM tongue

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH tongue

Example sentences from the Web for tonguing

British Dictionary definitions for tonguing (1 of 2)

noun

British Dictionary definitions for tonguing (2 of 2)

noun

verb tongues, tonguing or tongued

Derived forms of tongue

Word Origin for tongue

Medical definitions for tonguing

n.

Scientific definitions for tonguing

Idioms and Phrases with tonguing

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

tonguing

noun Music.

Origin of tonguing

Words nearby tonguing

Definition for tonguing (2 of 2)

noun

verb (used with object), tongued, tongu·ing.

verb (used without object), tongued, tongu·ing.

Origin of tongue

OTHER WORDS FROM tongue

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH tongue

Words related to tonguing

Example sentences from the Web for tonguing

British Dictionary definitions for tonguing (1 of 2)

noun

British Dictionary definitions for tonguing (2 of 2)

noun

verb tongues, tonguing or tongued

Derived forms of tongue

Word Origin for tongue

Medical definitions for tonguing

n.

Scientific definitions for tonguing

Idioms and Phrases with tonguing