What is word?

  • (noun): An exchange of views on some topic.
    Example: "We had a word or two about it"
    Synonyms: discussion, give-and-take
    See also — Additional definitions below

Word

In language, a word is the smallest element that may be uttered in isolation with semantic or pragmatic content (with literal or practical meaning). This contrasts with a morpheme, which is the smallest unit of meaning but will not necessarily stand on its own. A word may consist of a single morpheme (for example: oh!, rock, red, quick, run, expect), or several (rocks, redness, quickly, running, unexpected), whereas a morpheme may not be able to stand on its own as a word (in the words just mentioned, these are -s, -ness, -ly, -ing, un-, -ed). A complex word will typically include a root and one or more affixes (rock-s, red-ness, quick-ly, run-ning, un-expect-ed), or more than one root in a compound (black-board, rat-race). Words can be put together to build larger elements of language, such as phrases (a red rock), clauses (I threw a rock), and sentences (He threw a rock too but he missed).

Read more about Word.

Some articles on word:

Nickname - Etymology
... The compound word ekename, literally meaning "additional name", was attested as early as 1303 ... This word was derived from the Old English phrase eaca "an increase", related to eacian "to increase" ... the pronunciation and meaning of the word have remained relatively stable ever since ...
X86 Instructions - X86 Integer Instructions - Added in Specific Processors - Added With 80386
... test BTC Bit test and complement BTR Bit test and reset BTS Bit test and set CDQ Convert double-word to quad-word Sign-extends EAX into EDX, forming the quad-word EDXEAX ... CMPSD Compare string double-word Compares ES with DS CWDE Convert word to double-word Unlike CWD, CWDE sign-extends AX to EAX instead of AX to DXAX INSD Input from port to string double-word IRETx ... if register (E)CX is zero LFS, LGS Load far pointer LSS Load stack segment LODSD Load string double-word can be prefixed with REP LOOPW, LOOPccW Loop, conditional loop Same as LOOP, LOOPcc for ...
Qalam
... The word derives from the Greek word κάλαμος, meaning reed ... In modern Arabic, Persian, Turkish and Kurdish, the word simply means "pen" or "pencil", while in Hindi and Urdu, the word solely means "pen" ...
Partial Transliteration
... A source word can be transliterated by first identifying all the applicable prefix and suffix segments based on the letters in the source word ... A partial transliteration will also include some unmapped letters of the source word, namely those letters between the end of the prefix and the beginning of the suffix ... one segment mapping applies to a particular combination of characters in the source word ...
Yana (Buddhism) - Nomenclature, Etymology and Orthography
... The word came to be extended to refer to any means used to ease or speed travel hence such meanings as "vehicle", "carriage", "vessel", "wagon", "ship", and so on, depending ... "Vehicle" is often used as a preferred translation as the word that provides the least in the way of presuppositions about the mode of travel ... In spiritual uses, the word yāna acquires many metaphorical meanings, discussed below ...

More definitions of "word":

  • (noun): A word is a string of bits stored in computer memory.
    Example: "Large computers use words up to 64 bits long"
  • (noun): A verbal command for action.
    Example: "When I give the word, charge!"
  • (noun): A unit of language that native speakers can identify.
    Example: "Words are the blocks from which sentences are made"; "he hardly said ten words all morning"
  • (noun): The divine word of God; the second person in the Trinity (incarnate in Jesus).
    Synonyms: Son, Logos
  • (noun): A brief statement.
    Example: "He didn't say a word about it"

Famous quotes containing the word word:

    “A word is a bud attempting to become a twig. How can one not dream while writing? It is the pen which dreams. The blank page gives the right to dream.”
    —Gaston Bachelard (1884–1962)

    “Every word is a prejudice.”
    —Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900)

    “What satire on government can equal the severity of censure conveyed in the word politic, which now for the ages has signified cunning, intimating that the state is a trick?”
    —Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)