1.  The spoken sign of a conception or an idea; an articulate or vocal sound, or a combination of articulate and vocal sounds, uttered by the human voice, and by custom expressing an idea or ideas; a single component part of human speech or language; a constituent part of a sentence; a term; a vocable. Piers Plowman. [1913 Webster]
"You cram these words into mine ears, against
The stomach of my sense." [1913 Webster]
"Amongst men who confound their ideas with words, there must be endless disputes." [1913 Webster]

2.  Hence, the written or printed character, or combination of characters, expressing such a term; as, the words on a page. [1913 Webster]

3.  Talk; discourse; speech; language. [1913 Webster]
"Why should calamity be full of words?" [1913 Webster]
"Be thy words severe;
Sharp as he merits, but the sword forbear." [1913 Webster]

4.  Account; tidings; message; communication; information; -- used only in the singular. [1913 Webster]
"I pray you . . . bring me word thither
How the world goes." [1913 Webster]

5.  Signal; order; command; direction. [1913 Webster]
"Give the word through." [1913 Webster]

6.  Language considered as implying the faith or authority of the person who utters it; statement; affirmation; declaration; promise. [1913 Webster]
"Obey thy parents; keep thy word justly." [1913 Webster]
"I know you brave, and take you at your word." [1913 Webster]
"I desire not the reader should take my word." [1913 Webster]

7.  Verbal contention; dispute. [1913 Webster]
"Some words there grew 'twixt Somerset and me." [1913 Webster]

8.  A brief remark or observation; an expression; a phrase, clause, or short sentence. [1913 Webster]
"

 H E A R T
 E M B E R
 A B U S E
 R E S I N
 T R E N T
 
 (A word square)
 

   To use words, as in discussion; to argue; to dispute. [1913 Webster]

1.  To express in words; to phrase. [1913 Webster]
"The apology for the king is the same, but worded with greater deference to that great prince." [1913 Webster]

2.  To ply with words; also, to cause to be by the use of a word or words. Howell. [1913 Webster]

3.  To flatter with words; to cajole. Shak. [1913 Webster]

word, n. & v.
--n.
1 a sound or combination of sounds forming a meaningful element of speech, usu. shown with a space on either side of it when written or printed, used as part (or occas. as the whole) of a sentence.
2 speech, esp. as distinct from action (bold in word only).
3 one's promise or assurance (gave us their word).
4 (in sing. or pl.) a thing said, a remark or conversation.
5 (in pl.) the text of a song or an actor's part.
6 (in pl.) angry talk (they had words).
7 news, intelligence; a message.
8 a command, password, or motto (gave the word to begin).
9 a basic unit of the expression of data in a computer.
--v.tr. put into words; select words to express (how shall we word that?).

Idiom:
at a word as soon as requested. be as good as (or better than) one's word fulfil (or exceed) what one has promised. break one's word fail to do what one has promised. have no words for be unable to express. have a word (often foll. by with) speak briefly (to). in other words expressing the same thing differently. in so many words explicitly or bluntly. in a (or one) word briefly. keep one's word do what one has promised. my (or upon my) word an exclamation of surprise or consternation. not the word for it not an adequate or appropriate description. of few words taciturn. of one's word reliable in keeping promises (a woman of her word). on (or upon) my word a form of asseveration. put into words express in speech or writing. take a person at his or her word interpret a person's words literally or exactly. take a person's word for it believe a person's statement without investigation etc. too ... for words too ... to be adequately described (was too funny for words). waste words talk in vain. the Word (or Word of God) the Bible. word-blind incapable of identifying written or printed words owing to a brain defect. word-blindness this condition. word-deaf incapable of identifying spoken words owing to a brain defect. word-deafness this condition. word for word in exactly the same or (of translation) corresponding words. word-game a game involving the making or selection etc. of words. word of honour an assurance given upon one's honour. word of mouth speech (only). word order the sequence of words in a sentence, esp. affecting meaning etc. word-painting a vivid description in writing. word-perfect knowing one's part etc. by heart. word-picture a piece of word-painting. word processor a purpose-built computer system for electronically storing text entered from a keyboard, incorporating corrections, and providing a printout. words fail me an expression of disbelief, dismay, etc. word-square a set of words of equal length written one under another to read the same down as across (e.g. too old ode). a word to the wise = VERB. SAP.

Derivative:
wordage n. wordless adj. wordlessly adv. wordlessness n.

Etymology:
OE f. Gmc

N  word, term, vocable, name, phrase, root, etymon, derivative, part of speech, ideophone, dictionary, vocabulary, lexicon, glossary, index, concordance, thesaurus, gradus, delectus, etymology, derivation, glossology, terminology orismology, paleology, lexicography, glossographer, lexicologist, verbarian, verbal, literal, titular, nominal, conjugate, paronymous, derivative, verbally, verbatim, the artillery of words.

VB  express, phrase, word, word it, give words to, give expression to, voice, arrange in words, clothe in words, put into words, express by words, couch in terms, find words to express, speak by the card, call, denominate, designate, dub.

N  command, order, ordinance, act, fiat, hukm, bidding, dictum, hest, behest, call, beck, nod, despatch, dispatch, message, direction, injunction, charge, instructions, appointment, fixture, demand, exaction, imposition, requisition, claim, reclamation, revendication, ultimatum, request, requirement, dictation, dictate, mandate, caveat, decree, senatus consultum, precept, prescript, rescript, writ, ordination, bull, ex cathedra pronouncement, edict, decretal, dispensation, prescription, brevet, placit, ukase, ukaz, firman, hatti- sherif, warrant, passport, mittimus, mandamus, summons, subpoena, nisi prius, interpellation, citation, word, word of command, mot d'ordre, bugle call, trumpet call, beat of drum, tattoo, order of the day, enactment, plebiscite, commanding, authoritative, decretory, decretive, decretal, callable, jussive, in a commanding tone, by a stroke of the pen, by a dash of the pen, by order, at beat of drum, on the first summons, the decree is gone forth, sic volo sic jubeo, le Roi le veut, boutez en avant.

N  promise, undertaking, word, troth, plight, pledge, parole, word of honor, vow, oath, profession, assurance, warranty, guarantee, insurance, obligation, contract, stipulation, engagement, preengagement, affiance, betroth, betrothal, betrothment, promising, promissory, votive, under hand and seal, upon oath, promised, affianced, pledged, bound, committed, compromised, in for it, as one's head shall answer for, in for a penny in for a pound, ex voto, gage d'amour.

N  Judeo-christian revelation, revelation, inspiration, afflatus, theophany, theopneusty, Word, Word of God, Scripture, the Scriptures, the Bible, Holy Writ, Holy Scriptures, inspired writings, Gospel, Old Testament, Septuagint, Vulgate, Pentateuch, Octateuch, the Law, the Jewish Law, the Prophets, major Prophets, minor Prophets, Hagiographa, Hagiology, Hierographa, Apocrypha, New Testament, Gospels, Evangelists, Acts, Epistles, Apocalypse, Revelations, Talmud, Mishna, Masorah, prophet, evangelist, apostle, disciple, saint, the Fathers, the Apostolical Fathers, Holy Men of old, inspired penmen, scriptural, biblical, sacred, prophetic, evangelical, evangelistic, apostolic, apostolical, inspired, theopneustic, theophneusted, apocalyptic, ecclesiastical, canonical, textuary.

N  maxim, aphorism, apothegm, apophthegm, dictum, saying, adage, saw, proverb, sentence, mot, motto, word, byword, moral, phylactery, protasis, axiom, theorem, scholium, truism, postulate, first principles, a priori fact, assumption (supposition), reflection, conclusion, golden rule, principle, principia, profession of faith, settled principle, accepted principle, formula, accepted fact, received truth, wise maxim, sage maxim, received maxim, admitted maxim, recognized maxim, true saying, common saying, hackneyed saying, trite saying, commonplace saying, aphoristic, proverbial, phylacteric, axiomatic, gnomic, as the saying goes, as the saying is, as they say.

N  information, enlightenment, acquaintance, knowledge, publicity, data, communication, intimation, notice, notification, enunciation, annunciation, announcement, communiqu_e, representation, round robin, presentment, case, estimate, specification, report, advice, monition, news, return, account, statement, mention, acquainting, instruction, outpouring, intercommunication, communicativeness, informant, authority, teller, intelligencer, reporter, exponent, mouthpiece, informer, eavesdropper, delator, detective, sleuth, mouchard, spy, newsmonger, messenger, amicus curiae, valet de place, cicerone, pilot, guide, guidebook, handbook, vade mecum, manual, map, plan, chart, gazetteer, itinerary, hint, suggestion, innuendo, inkling, whisper, passing word, word in the ear, subaudition, cue, byplay, gesture, gentle hint, broad hint, verbum sapienti, a word to the wise, insinuation, information theory, bit, byte, word, doubleword, quad word, paragraph, segment, magnetic media, paper medium, optical media, random access memory, RAM, read-only memory, ROM, write once read mostly memory, WORM, informed, communique, reported, published, expressive, explicit plain spoken, (artless), nuncupative, nuncupatory, declaratory, expository, enunciative, communicative, communicatory, from information received, a little bird told me, I heard it through the grapevine.

N  news, information, piece of news, budget of news, budget of information, intelligence, tidings, word, advice, aviso, message, dispatch, despatch, telegram, cable, marconigram, wire, communication, errand, embassy, report, rumor, hearsay, on dit, flying rumor, news stirring, cry, buzz, bruit, fame, talk, oui dire, scandal, eavesdropping, town tattle, table talk, tittle tattle, canard, topic of the day, idea afloat, bulletin, fresh news, stirring news, glad tidings, flash, news just in, on-the-spot coverage, live coverage, old story, old news, stale news, stale story, chestnut, narrator, newsmonger, scandalmonger, talebearer, telltale, gossip, tattler, journalism, media, news media, the press, the information industry, newspaper, magazine, tract, journal, gazette, publication, radio, television, ticker (electronic information transmission), United Press International, UPI, Associated Press, AP, The Dow Jones News Service, DJ, The New York Times News Service, NYT, Reuters, TASS, The Nikkei, newscaster, newsman, newswoman, reporter, journalist, correspondent, foreign correspondent, special correspondent, war correspondent, news team, news department, anchorman, anchorwoman, sportscaster, weatherman, press secretary, public relations department, public relations man, many-tongued, rumored, publicly rumored, currently rumored, currently reported, rife, current, floating, afloat, going about, in circulation, in every one's mouth, all over the town, in progress, live, on the spot, in person, as the story goes, as the story runs, as they say, it is said, by telegraph, by wireless, airy tongues that syllable men's names, what's up?, what's the latest?, what's new?, what's the latest poop?.

N  affirmance, affirmation, statement, allegation, assertion, predication, declaration, word, averment, confirmation, asseveration, adjuration, swearing, oath, affidavit, deposition, avouchment, assurance, protest, protestation, profession, acknowledgment, legal pledge, pronouncement, solemn averment, solemn avowal, solemn declaration, remark, observation, position, saying, dictum, sentence, ipse dixit, emphasis, weight, dogmatism, dogmatics, asserting, declaratory, predicatory, pronunciative, affirmative, soi-disant, positive, certain, express, explicit, absolute, emphatic, flat, broad, round, pointed, marked, distinct, decided, confident, trenchant, dogmatic, definitive, formal, solemn, categorical, peremptory, unretracted, predicable, affirmatively, in the affirmative, with emphasis, ex-cathedra, without fear of contradiction, as God is my witness, I must say, indeed, i' faith, let me tell you, why, give me leave to say, marry, you may be sure, I'd have you to know, upon my word, upon my honor, by my troth, egad, I assure you, by jingo, by Jove, by George, troth, seriously, sadly, in sadness, in sober sadness, in truth, in earnest, of a truth, truly, perdy, in all conscience, upon oath, be assured, yes, I'll warrant, I'll warrant you, I'll engage, I'll answer for it, I'll be bound, I'll venture to say, I'll take my oath, in fact, forsooth, joking apart, so help me God, not to mince the matter, quoth he, dixi.

by word of mouth, closed-class word, cognate word, content word, curse word, deictic word, dirty word, entry word, equivalent word, four-letter anglo-saxon word, four-letter word, function word, get word, ghost word, give the word, good word, guide word, head word, key word, last word, leave word, main entry word, monosyllabic word, nonce word, open-class word, opposite word, polysemantic word, polysemous word, polysyllabic word, portmanteau word, root word, say the word, send word, smear word, spoken word, subordinate word, superordinate word, weasel word, word accent, word blindness, word class, word deafness, word division, word finder, word for word, word form, word formation, word game, word meaning, word method, word of advice, word of farewell, word of god, word of honor, word of mouth, word order, word painting, word picture, word play, word processing, word processing system, word processor, word salad, word sense, word square, word stress, word string, word structure, word to the wise, written word

   dictionary(n = noun.communication) lexicon - a reference book containing an alphabetical list of words with information about them;
is a kind of wordbook
has parts: dictionary entry, lexical entry
has particulars: bilingual dictionary, collegiate dictionary, desk dictionary, etymological dictionary, gazetteer, learner's dictionary, school dictionary, little dictionary, pocket dictionary, spell-checker, spelling checker, unabridged, unabridged dictionary

dictionary, n. (pl. -ies)
1 a book that lists (usu. in alphabetical order) and explains the words of a language or gives equivalent words in another language.
2 a reference book on any subject, the items of which are arranged in alphabetical order (dictionary of architecture).

Etymology:
med.L dictionarium (manuale manual) & dictionarius (liber book) f. L dictio (as DICTION)

N  word, term, vocable, name, phrase, root, etymon, derivative, part of speech, ideophone, dictionary, vocabulary, lexicon, glossary, index, concordance, thesaurus, gradus, delectus, etymology, derivation, glossology, terminology orismology, paleology, lexicography, glossographer, lexicologist, verbarian, verbal, literal, titular, nominal, conjugate, paronymous, derivative, verbally, verbatim, the artillery of words.

N  list, catalog, catalogue, inventory, register, account, bill, bill of costs, terrier, tally, listing, itemization, atlas, book, ledger, catalogue raisonne, tableau, invoice, bill of lading, prospectus, bill of fare, menu, carte, score, census, statistics, returns, contents, table of contents, outline, synopsis, checklist, table, chart, database, index, inverted file, word list, concordance, dictionary, lexicon, vocabulary, glossary, thesaurus, file, card index, card file, rolodex, address book, Red book, Blue book, Domesday book, cadastre, directory, gazetter, almanac, army list, clergy list, civil service list, navy list, Almanach de Gotha, cadaster, Lloyd's register, nautical almanac, who's who, Guiness's Book of World Records, roll, check roll, checker roll, bead roll, muster roll, muster book, roster, panel, jury list, cartulary, diptych, cadastral.

N  interpretation, definition, explanation, explication, solution, answer, rationale, plain interpretation, simple interpretation, strict interpretation, meaning, translation, rendering, rendition, redition, literal translation, free translation, key, secret, clew, clavis, crib, pony, trot, exegesis, expounding, exposition, hermeneutics, comment, commentary, inference, illustration, exemplification, gloss, annotation, scholium, note, elucidation, dilucidation, eclaircissement, mot d'enigme, symptomatology, semiology, semeiology, semiotics, metoposcopy, physiognomy, paleography, oneirology acception, acceptation, acceptance, light, reading, lection, construction, version, equivalent, equivalent meaning, synonym, paraphrase, metaphrase, convertible terms, apposition, dictionary, polyglot, explanatory, expository, explicative, explicatory, exegetical, construable, polyglot, literal, paraphrastic, metaphrastic, consignificative, synonymous, equivalent, in explanation, that is to say, id est, videlicet, to wit, namely, in other words, literally, strictly speaking, in plain, in plainer terms, in plainer words, in plainer English, more simply.

N  school, academy, university, alma mater, college, seminary, Lyceum, institute, institution, palaestra, Gymnasium, class, seminar, day school, boarding school, preparatory school, primary school, infant school, dame's school, grammar school, middle class school, Board school, denominational school, National school, British and Foreign school, collegiate school, art school, continuation school, convent school, County Council school, government school, grant-in-aid school, high school, higher grade school, military school, missionary school, naval school, naval academy, state-aided school, technical school, voluntary school, school, school of art, kindergarten, nursery, creche, reformatory, pulpit, lectern, soap box desk, reading desk, ambo, lecture room, theater, auditorium, amphitheater, forum, state, rostrum, platform, hustings, tribune, school book, horn book, text book, grammar, primer, abecedary, rudiments, manual, vade mecum, encyclopedia, cyclopedia, Lindley Murray, Cocker, dictionary, lexicon, professorship, lectureship, readership, fellowship, tutorship, chair, School Board Council of Education, Board of Education, Board of Studies, Prefect of Studies, Textbook Committee, propaganda, scholastic, academic, collegiate, educational, ex cathedra.

bilingual dictionary, collegiate dictionary, desk dictionary, dictionary definition, dictionary entry, electronic dictionary, etymological dictionary, learner's dictionary, little dictionary, machine readable dictionary, oxford english dictionary, pocket dictionary, school dictionary, unabridged dictionary