gesture

gesture
{{Roman}}I.{{/Roman}}
noun
1 movement that expresses sth
ADJECTIVE
▪ dramatic, expansive, expressive, extravagant, flamboyant, melodramatic, rhetorical, sweeping, theatrical
▪

She made an expansive gesture with her arms.

▪ abrupt
▪ subtle, vague
▪

He responded with a vague gesture in the direction of the beach.

▪ crude (esp. AmE), obscene, rude
▪ angry, defiant, dismissive, threatening
▪ helpless
VERB + GESTURE
▪ make
▪

The children made rude gestures at them.

PREPOSITION
▪ by gesture
▪

They communicate entirely by gesture.

▪ in a gesture
▪

He waved his arms in a melodramatic gesture.

▪ with a gesture
▪

She waved us away with an impatient gesture.

▪ gesture of
▪

a gesture of despair

2 sth that shows other people what you think/feel
ADJECTIVE
▪ kind, nice, sweet, thoughtful
▪

I thought it was a nice gesture to send everyone a card.

▪ bold
▪

a bold gesture of reconciliation

▪ simple
▪ dramatic, extravagant, grand
▪

He had the respect of his people without the need for grand gestures.

▪ noble
▪ conciliatory, friendly, goodwill
▪ romantic
▪ empty, small, symbolic, token
▪

Words and empty gestures are not enough—we demand action!

▪

a token gesture of their good intentions

▪ futile
▪ political
PREPOSITION
▪ as a gesture
▪

Several hostages were released as a goodwill gesture.

▪ in a gesture
▪

In a dramatic gesture, he threw the money on the table.

▪ gesture against
▪

The invasion attempt was intended as a political gesture against his opponents.

▪ gesture of
▪

His gift was a gesture of friendship.

▪ gesture towards/toward
▪

The president's speech was seen as a conciliatory gesture towards/toward former enemies.

{{Roman}}II.{{/Roman}}
verb
ADVERB
▪ vaguely
▪ frantically, wildly
▪ expansively, grandly
▪ impatiently
▪ helplessly
PREPOSITION
▪ at
▪

She gestured at him to step back.

▪ about (BrE), around
▪

He gestured around the room, lost for words.

▪ for
▪

He gestured abruptly for Virginia to get in the car.

▪ to
▪

Davis gestured to the waiter.

▪ towards/toward
▪

He gestured vaguely towards/toward the house.


Collocations dictionary. 2013.

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Synonyms:
(accompanying oral utterance), , , ,


Look at other dictionaries:

  • gesture — n Gesture, gesticulation are comparable when meaning an expressive movement or motion of the body or limbs or the use of such a movement or motion. Gesture is the more inclusive term; it may imply any such movement or motion intended to express… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • gesture — [jes′chər] n. [ME < ML gestura, mode of action < L gestus, pp. of gerere, to bear, carry] 1. a movement, or movements collectively, of the body, or of part of the body, to express or emphasize ideas, emotions, etc. 2. anything said or done… …   English World dictionary

  • Gesture — Ges ture, n. [LL. gestura mode of action, fr. L. gerere, gestum, to bear, behave, perform, act. See {Gest} a deed.] 1. Manner of carrying the body; position of the body or limbs; posture. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] Accubation, or lying down at meals,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Gesture — Ges ture, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Gestured}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Gesturing}.] To accompany or illustrate with gesture or action; to gesticulate. [1913 Webster] It is not orderly read, nor gestured as beseemeth. Hooker. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • gesture — (n.) early 15c., manner of carrying the body, from M.L. gestura bearing, behavior, from L. gestus gesture, carriage, posture (see GEST (Cf. gest)). Restricted sense of a movement of the body or a part of it is from 1550s; figurative sense of… …   Etymology dictionary

  • gesture — [n] motion as communication action, body language, bow, curtsy, expression, genuflection, gesticulation, high sign, indication, intimation, kinesics, mime, nod, pantomime, reminder, salute, shrug, sign, signal, sign language, token, wave, wink;… …   New thesaurus

  • gesture — ► NOUN 1) a movement of part of the body to express an idea or meaning. 2) an action performed to convey one s feelings or intentions. 3) an action performed for show in the knowledge that it will have no effect. ► VERB ▪ make a gesture.… …   English terms dictionary

  • Gesture — Ges ture, v. i. To make gestures; to gesticulate. [1913 Webster] The players . . . gestured not undecently withal. Holland. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • gesture — index brandish, symbol Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • Gesture —   [sprich: Dschästscha, dt. »Geste«], Anweisung für das Betriebssystem eines Pen Computers. Gestures werden mit einem Stift eingegeben (dem Pen), dessen Bewegungen auf dem berührungssensitiven Display vom Betriebssystem ausgewertet werden.… …   Universal-Lexikon

  • Gesture — A gesture is a form of non verbal communication made with a part of the body, used instead of or in combination with verbal communication . The language of gesture allows individuals to express a variety of feelings and thoughts, from contempt… …   Wikipedia

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