Language vs. Tongue

Language vs. Tongue — Is There a Difference?
ADVERTISEMENT

Difference Between Language and Tongue

Languagenoun

(countable) A body of words, and set of methods of combining them (called a grammar), understood by a community and used as a form of communication.

The English language and the German language are related.Deaf and mute people communicate using languages like ASL.

Tonguenoun

The flexible muscular organ in the mouth that is used to move food around, for tasting and that is moved into various positions to modify the flow of air from the lungs in order to produce different sounds in speech.

Languagenoun

(uncountable) The ability to communicate using words.

the gift of language

Tonguenoun

Any similar organ, such as the lingual ribbon, or odontophore, of a mollusk; the proboscis of a moth or butterfly; or the lingua of an insect.

Languagenoun

(uncountable) The vocabulary and usage of a particular specialist field.

legal language;the language of chemistry

Tonguenoun

(metonym) A language.

He was speaking in his native tongue.The poem was written in her native tongue.
ADVERTISEMENT

Languagenoun

The expression of thought (the communication of meaning) in a specified way.

body language;the language of the eyes

Tonguenoun

The power of articulate utterance; speech generally.

Languagenoun

A body of sounds, signs and/or signals by which animals communicate, and by which plants are sometimes also thought to communicate.

Tonguenoun

(obsolete) Discourse; fluency of speech or expression.

Languagenoun

A computer language; a machine language.

Tonguenoun

(obsolete) Honourable discourse; eulogy.

ADVERTISEMENT

Languagenoun

(uncountable) Manner of expression.

Tonguenoun

Glossolalia.

Languagenoun

(uncountable) The particular words used in a speech or a passage of text.

The language used in the law does not permit any other interpretation.The language he used to talk to me was obscene.

Tonguenoun

In a shoe, the flap of material that goes between the laces and the foot, so called because it resembles a tongue in the mouth.

Languagenoun

(uncountable) Profanity.

Tonguenoun

Any large or long physical protrusion on an automotive or machine part or any other part that fits into a long groove on another part.

Languagenoun

A languet, a flat plate in or below the flue pipe of an organ.

Tonguenoun

A projection, or slender appendage or fixture.

the tongue of a buckle, or of a balance

Languageverb

To communicate by language; to express in language.

Tonguenoun

A long, narrow strip of land, projecting from the mainland into a sea or lake.

Languagenoun

a systematic means of communicating by the use of sounds or conventional symbols;

he taught foreign languagesthe language introduced is standard throughout the textthe speed with which a program can be executed depends on the language in which it is written

Tonguenoun

The pole of a vehicle; especially, the pole of an ox cart, to the end of which the oxen are yoked.

Languagenoun

(language) communication by word of mouth;

his speech was garbledhe uttered harsh languagehe recorded the spoken language of the streets

Tonguenoun

The clapper of a bell.

Languagenoun

a system of words used in a particular discipline;

legal terminologythe language of sociology

Tonguenoun

(figuratively) An individual point of flame from a fire.

Languagenoun

the cognitive processes involved in producing and understanding linguistic communication;

he didn't have the language to express his feelings

Tonguenoun

A small sole (type of fish).

Languagenoun

the mental faculty or power of vocal communication;

language sets homo sapiens apart from all other animals

Tonguenoun

(nautical) A short piece of rope spliced into the upper part of standing backstays, etc.; also, the upper main piece of a mast composed of several pieces.

Languagenoun

the text of a popular song or musical-comedy number;

his compositions always started with the lyricshe wrote both words and musicthe song uses colloquial language

Tonguenoun

(music) A reed.

Tongueverb

On a wind instrument, to articulate a note by starting the air with a tap of the tongue, as though by speaking a 'd' or 't' sound (alveolar plosive).

Playing wind instruments involves tonguing on the reed or mouthpiece.

Tongueverb

(slang) To manipulate with the tongue, as in kissing or oral sex.

Tongueverb

To protrude in relatively long, narrow sections.

a soil horizon that tongues into clay

Tongueverb

To join by means of a tongue and groove.

to tongue boards together

Tongueverb

To talk; to prate.

Tongueverb

To speak; to utter.

Tongueverb

To chide; to scold.

Tonguenoun

a mobile mass of muscular tissue covered with mucous membrane and located in the oral cavity

Tonguenoun

a human written or spoken language used by a community; opposed to e.g. a computer language

Tonguenoun

any long thin projection that is transient;

tongues of flame licked at the wallsrifles exploded quick knives of fire into the dark

Tonguenoun

a manner of speaking;

he spoke with a thick tongueshe has a glib tongue

Tonguenoun

a narrow strip of land that juts out into the sea

Tonguenoun

the tongue of certain animals used as meat

Tonguenoun

the flap of material under the laces of a shoe or boot

Tonguenoun

metal striker that hangs inside a bell and makes a sound by hitting the side

Tongueverb

articulate by tonguing, as when playing wind instruments

Tongueverb

lick or explore with the tongue