gesture
English · Thesaurus
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gesture
- /ˈd͡ʒɛs.t͡ʃə/ UK
- /ˈd͡ʒɛs.t͡ʃɚ/ US
- /ˈd͡ʒɛs.t͡ʃɝ/ US
Rhymes with -ɛstʃə(ɹ)
Where it comes from
From Medieval Latin gestūra (“a mode of action”), from Latin gerō (“to bear; (reflexive) bear oneself, behave, act”), past participle gestus. By surface analysis, Latin gest- + -ure.
noun gestures
- A motion of the limbs or body, especially one made to emphasize speech. The middle-finger gesture is really a nonverbal swear.
- An act or a remark that serves as a formality or as a sign of attitude. We took flowers as a gesture of sympathy.
- A motion made with a pointing device, or on a touchscreen, that is recognised by the system as a command. This Web browser can be controlled with mouse gestures.
- The manner of carrying the body; position of the body or limbs; posture. Accubation, or lying down at meals, was a gesture used by very many nations.
verb gestures · gesturing · gestured
-
To make a gesture or gestures.
My dad told me never to gesture with my hands when I talk.
Similar: gesticulate, gesture
- To express (something) by a gesture or gestures. He gestured his disgust.
- To accompany or illustrate with gesture or action. It is not orderly read, nor gestured as beseemeth.
- To express or signal (to someone) by a gesture or gestures (to do something, go somewhere, etc). […] she sweepingly gestured him to the pillory — a chair upon the platform, facing the school. Here he suffered for the unusual term of an hour, with many jocular and cunning eyes constantly upon him; and, when he was released at noon, horrid shouts […]
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: gesticulate, gesticulation, motion, display, expression, tale, sign, rhetoric, indication, attitude, reference, demonstration, posture, posturing, symbolic, stance
Translations
Every language
noun motion of the limbs or body
| Español | gesto, ademán, amague, mariguanza |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 제스처 jeseucheo, 몸짓 momjit |
| 日本語 | ジェスチャー jesuchā, 身振り miburi |
| 中文 | 手勢 /手势 shǒushì, 姿勢 /姿势 zīshì |
| हिन्दी | इशारा iśārā, संकेत saṅket |
| Português | gesto, sinal |
| Français | geste, signe |
| Deutsch | Geste, Gebärde |
| Italiano | gesto |
| Ελληνικά | χειρονομία cheironomía |
| Română | gest |
| Русский | жест žest, телодвиже́ние telodvižénije |
| Tiếng Việt | cử chỉ, bộ tịch |
| العربية | لَفْتَة lafta, إِشَارَة ʔišāra |
| עברית | מחווה \ מֶחֱוָה mekhvá |
noun act or remark
| Español | gesto |
|---|---|
| 中文 | 表示 biǎoshì |
| Português | gesto |
| Français | geste |
| Deutsch | Geste |
| Русский | жест žest, посту́пок postúpok |
| עברית | גֶ׳סְטָה jésta |
verb to make a gesture
| Español | gestear |
|---|---|
| 中文 | 做手勢 /做手势 zuò shǒushì |
| Português | gesticular |
| Deutsch | gestikulieren |
| Русский | жестикули́ровать žestikulírovatʹ |
verb to express something by a gesture
| Español | gestear |
|---|---|
| 中文 | 表示 biǎoshì |
| Português | gesticular |
| Deutsch | (jemandem etwas) bedeuten |
Talk about this word "gesture." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/gesture. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. gesture. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/gesture "gesture." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/gesture.Cite this
@misc{gesture_2026,
title = {gesture},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/gesture},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
