Reading Theme:
Tongue: Meanings, Examples, and Usage Explained (3 meaning)
Meaning 1：the fleshy tongue organ (tongue)
tongue
/tʌŋ/
n.
The soft, movable part inside your mouth used for tasting, licking, swallowing, and talking.
the fleshy tongue organ
➕
/ðə ˈflɛʃi tʌŋ ˈɔːrɡən/
n.
The tongue is a muscular organ inside the mouth that is essential for tasting, licking, swallowing, and forming speech sounds.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
From Old English 'tunge', related to Dutch 'tong' and German 'Zunge'.
💡 Mnemonic
Imagine a 'tong' (like metal tongs) holding your food while you taste it – both involve the tongue and tasting.
📖 Example
The spicy food made my tongue feel like it was on fire.
The spicy food made my tongue feel like it was on fire.
🔗 Collocations
tongue twister – A phrase or sequence of words that is difficult to pronounce quickly or correctly.
tongue depressor – A thin, flat wooden or plastic stick used by doctors to hold down the tongue during a throat examination.
slip of the tongue – A minor mistake in speech, often saying something unintended.
🔄 Synonyms
lingua (n.) – The anatomical term for the tongue, used in scientific contexts.
glossa (n.) – A technical term for the tongue in anatomy and zoology.
organ of taste (n.) – A descriptive term emphasizing the tongue's role in tasting.
🌱 Derivatives
tongued (adj.) – Having a specified kind of tongue or speech; used in compounds like 'silver-tongued'.
tongueless (adj.) – Lacking a tongue; unable to speak.
tongue-tied (adj.) – Unable to speak freely due to shyness or embarrassment.
📖 Cultural Story
In many cultures, the tongue symbolizes speech and communication; the phrase 'bite your tongue' means to remain silent. It is also central to idioms like 'tongue-tied'.
Meaning 2：native language (tongue)
tongue
/tʌŋ/
n.
A way of speaking that belongs to a particular country or people; a language.
native language
➕
/ˈneɪtɪv ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ/
n.
The term 'tongue' can refer to a particular language or dialect, especially one's native or mother tongue.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
Her native tongue is French, but she speaks English fluently as well.
Her native tongue is French, but she speaks English fluently as well.
🔗 Collocations
mother tongue – The first language a person learns from birth; their native language.
gift of tongues – The ability to speak multiple languages, or in religious contexts, to speak in unknown languages.
tongue of the people – The common language spoken by a specific group or nation.
Meaning 3：tongue-shaped land (tongue)
tongue
/tʌŋ/
n.
Anything that is shaped like a tongue, for example, a long narrow piece of land.
tongue-shaped land
➕
/tʌŋ-ʃeɪpt lænd/
n.
A 'tongue' can describe any long, narrow projection of land or other object that resembles the shape of a tongue, such as a tongue of land or a tongue of ice (glacier).
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
From the plane, we could see a tongue of land extending far into the blue sea.
From the plane, we could see a tongue of land extending far into the blue sea.
🔗 Collocations
tongue of land – A narrow, projecting strip of land, such as a peninsula or spit.
glacier tongue – The elongated front part of a glacier that extends into a valley or sea.
tongue of flame – A long, narrow jet of fire, often seen in explosions or wildfires.
🔄 Synonyms
peninsula (n.) – A piece of land almost surrounded by water or projecting out into a body of water.
spit (n.) – A long, narrow piece of land projecting into the sea.
promontory (n.) – A high point of land or rock projecting into a body of water.
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