TONGUES Meaning and
Definition
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"Tongues" refers to the physical organ that occupies the floor of the mouth and is primarily responsible for tasting, swallowing, and speaking. Positioned behind the teeth, the tongue is composed of flexible muscles covered by a mucous membrane. As a sensory organ, it is equipped with taste buds that enable the perception of different flavors, with regions sensitive to sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami tastes.
In the context of speech and communication, "tongues" also refers to the manner or style in which a language is spoken. Every language has its unique set of sounds, pronunciations, rhythms, and intonations, which together form the tongue of that particular language. When someone speaks in "tongues," it implies that they are using a specific language or dialect, often with regional or cultural differences.
Additionally, "tongues" can also signify the ability to speak in a supposed divine language known as glossolalia or speaking in tongues. This concept is prevalent in certain religious practices and involves speaking in unintelligible sounds or languages believed to be a direct communication with a higher power, such as God or spirits. Speaking in tongues is often associated with religious ecstasy or a spiritual experience.
Overall, "tongues" encompasses the physical organ, the linguistic aspect of spoken languages, and the religious practice of speaking in divine languages.
Top Common Misspellings for TONGUES *
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
Other Common Misspellings for TONGUES
Etymology of TONGUES
The word "tongues" has its etymology rooted in Old English. It can be traced back to the Old English word "tunge", which meant "speech" or "language". This Old English word was derived from the Proto-Germanic word "tungǭ", which also meant "tongue" or "language". The Proto-Germanic word ultimately came from the Proto-Indo-European root "dn̥ǵʰwéh₂s", meaning "tongue" or "speech". This etymology highlights the connection between the physical organ of the tongue and its role in language and speech. Over time, the word "tongues" has come to be used in various contexts, including referring to the ability to speak in different languages or to a specific ecstatic or spiritual form of speech.
Idioms with the word TONGUES
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tongues wagging
The idiom "tongues wagging" refers to the spread of gossip or rumors regarding a particular person or situation. It implies that people are talking and discussing a topic, often in a negative or judgemental manner.
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set tongues wagging
The idiom "set tongues wagging" means to cause a lot of gossip or discussion. It refers to the action of making people talk or speculate about something, often due to controversial, interesting, or scandalous information that has been revealed.
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cause (sm) tongues to wag
The idiom "cause (sm) tongues to wag" means to do or say something that generates gossip or speculation among people. It refers to an action or event that stirs up conversation and leads to widespread talks or rumors.
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cause tongues to wag
The idiom "cause tongues to wag" means to generate gossip, controversy, or curiosity among people, resulting in the spread of rumors or discussions. It refers to an action, event, or behavior that captures the attention and interest of others, leading to extensive and often exaggerated discussions or speculation about it.
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set/start tongues wagging
The idiom "set/start tongues wagging" means to cause gossip or speculation by saying or doing something that catches people's attention and prompts them to talk and spread rumors. It refers to the act of triggering conversations and discussions among people, usually in a manner that attracts attention or raises curiosity.
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set tongues (a)wagging
The idiom "set tongues (a)wagging" means to cause people to gossip or spread rumors, typically by doing or saying something controversial or arousing public interest.
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speak in tongues
The idiom "speak in tongues" refers to the act of speaking in a language or manner that is unintelligible or incomprehensible to others. It often implies speaking in a way that is confusing, perplexing, or difficult to understand. In religious contexts, it can specifically refer to the phenomenon of speaking in a divine or unknown language as a spiritual experience.
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cause (some) tongues to wag
The idiom "cause (some) tongues to wag" means to stir up gossip, generate rumors, or provoke people to talk about something or someone. It implies that one's actions or behavior are noteworthy enough to spark speculation or discussion among others.
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the gift of tongues
The idiom "the gift of tongues" refers to the ability to speak or understand a foreign language without prior knowledge or study. It often implies a supernatural or miraculously acquired skill, commonly associated with religious or spiritual contexts.
Similar spelling words for TONGUES
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