noun
word
wurd
noun
1
The smallest unit of language that carries meaning on its own, made up of one or more sounds or letters.
""Cat" is a single word, but "cats" adds a small unit of meaning too."
"She looked up an unfamiliar word in the dictionary."
2
Something said; a remark, message, or piece of news.
"He sent word that he'd be arriving late."
"There's no word yet on when the results will be announced."
3
A promise or one's sworn assurance.
"She gave her word that she'd keep the secret."
4
In computing, a fixed-size chunk of data that a processor handles as a single unit.
"The processor reads and writes data one word at a time."
How to Use Word
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA single unit of language, or, more loosely, someone's promise or a bit of news.
Common mistake
"Give your word" means to promise, not literally to hand over a word.
Common pairings
give your word
word of mouth
word for word
have a word
Word Forms
worded past tense, words plural, words singular
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"Cat" is a single _____, but "cats" adds a small unit of meaning too.
Etymology
From Old English "word," tracing back to a very old Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to speak." It's a distant relative of "verb" and "verve."