language
n 1: a systematic means of communicating by the use of sounds or
conventional symbols; "he taught foreign languages";
"the language introduced is standard throughout the
text"; "the speed with which a program can be executed
depends on the language in which it is written" [syn: {linguistic
communication}]
2: communication by word of mouth; "his speech was slurred";
"he uttered harsh language"; "he recorded the language of
the streets" [syn: {speech}, {spoken language}, {oral
communication}]
3: a system of words used in a particular discipline; "legal
terminology"; "the language of sociology" [syn: {terminology},
{nomenclature}]
4: the cognitive processes involved in producing and
understanding linguistic communication; "he didn't have
the language to express his feelings" [syn: {linguistic
process}]
5: the mental faculty or power of vocal communication;
"language sets homo sapiens apart from all other animals"
[syn: {speech}]
6: the text of a popular song or musical-comedy number; "his
compositions always started with the lyrics"; "he wrote
both words and music"; "the song uses colloquial language"
[syn: {lyric}, {words}]