Oral: meaning, definitions and examples

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oral

[ ˈɔːrəl ]

Adjective / Noun

^{Context #1 | Adjective}

health

Relating to the mouth.

Synonyms

mouth, spoken, verbal.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
oral	Used in formal or academic settings to describe communication that is spoken rather than written. Often used in exams, presentations, and medical discussions. He has an oral presentation on Monday. The doctor provided oral instructions for the medication.
mouth	Mainly refers to the physical part of the body. Can also be used in informal speech to describe someone speaking, but it's less common. She opened her mouth to speak. He put the pill in his mouth.
verbal	Often used to contrast with written communication. Can also mean 'related to words', but in contexts involving spoken communication, it refers to speech over text. She gave a verbal agreement over the phone. There was a misunderstanding due to a verbal miscommunication.
spoken	Refers specifically to words that are said out loud. It emphasizes the act of speaking over writing or other forms of communication. He is much more confident in spoken English than written English. The spoken word has a powerful impact.

Examples of usage

The dentist performed an oral examination.
She had oral surgery to remove her wisdom teeth.

^{Context #2 | Adjective}

communication

Expressed in spoken words rather than writing.

Synonyms

spoken, spoken, verbal.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
oral	Use when referring to something related to the mouth or spoken out loud, often in formal or medical contexts. The doctor conducted an oral examination The professor assigned an oral presentation for the final project
spoken	Use when referring to something that is communicated through speech rather than written down. It is usually informal. She has a good command of spoken English They discussed the matter in a spoken agreement
verbal	Use when referring to communication that involves words, either spoken or written, but often used to emphasize spoken communication in a formal context. The witness provided a verbal testimony in court There was a verbal agreement between the two parties

Word

Description / Examples

oral

Use when referring to something related to the mouth or spoken out loud, often in formal or medical contexts.

The doctor conducted an oral examination
The professor assigned an oral presentation for the final project

spoken

Use when referring to something that is communicated through speech rather than written down. It is usually informal.

She has a good command of spoken English
They discussed the matter in a spoken agreement

verbal

Use when referring to communication that involves words, either spoken or written, but often used to emphasize spoken communication in a formal context.

The witness provided a verbal testimony in court
There was a verbal agreement between the two parties

Examples of usage

She gave an oral presentation to the board.
The agreement was made through oral communication.

^{Context #3 | Noun}

examination

A spoken examination or test, especially in a language course.

Synonyms

spoken, spoken, verbal.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
oral	Use this word when referring to spoken communication or anything related to the mouth, such as medical or educational contexts. The doctor performed an oral examination. Oral presentations are an important part of the course.

Examples of usage

The final assessment included both a written and an oral component.
The students were nervous about the oral exam.

Translations

Translations of the word "oral" in other languages:

🇵🇹 oral

🇮🇳 मौखिक (moukhik)

🇩🇪 mündlich

🇮🇩 lisan

🇺🇦 усний

🇵🇱 ustny

🇯🇵 口頭の (kōtō no)

🇫🇷 oral

🇪🇸 oral

🇹🇷 sözlü

🇰🇷 구두의 (guduui)

🇸🇦 شفوي (shafawi)

🇨🇿 ústní

🇸🇰 ústny

🇨🇳 口头的 (kǒutóu de)

🇸🇮 ustni

🇮🇸 munnlegur

🇰🇿 ауызша

🇬🇪 ზეპირი (zepiri)

🇦🇿 şifahi

🇲🇽 oral

Etymology

The word 'oral' originates from the Latin word 'oralis', which means 'of the mouth'. It has been used in English since the late 14th century to refer to anything related to the mouth or spoken words. Over the years, 'oral' has become a common term in various fields such as medicine, education, and communication.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #2,707, this word belongs to solid intermediate vocabulary. It's frequently used in both casual and formal contexts and is worth learning for better fluency.

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