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text

n. · v.
US //ˈtɛkst// UK //tˈɛkst// text
  1. 1 written words (n.)
    A1 Beginner

    the written or printed words in a book, magazine, or on a screen.

    the main body of written or printed matter in a work, as distinguished from illustrations or notes.

    Example

    The text on this page is too small for me to read without my glasses.

    Example

    The editor suggested that the author reduce the amount of text on the introductory pages to make room for more detailed diagrams.
  2. 2 a textbook (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Academic

    a book that you use to study a particular subject at school or university.

    a book or other written work used as a standard source for the study of a particular subject.

    Example

    We need to buy the history text before the first lecture on Monday.

    Example

    The professor assigned a primary text from the nineteenth century to provide students with a first-hand account of the industrial revolution.
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  1. 3 a phone message (n.)
    A2 Elementary Informal

    a short written message sent from one mobile phone to another.

    a brief electronic message sent between mobile devices, typically via SMS or a messaging app.

    Example

    I sent you a text an hour ago to tell you I would be late.

    Example

    She received a frantic text from her brother, who had forgotten his keys and was locked out of the apartment.
  2. 4 digital data (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Technical Computing

    information on a computer that is made of letters and numbers rather than images or sound.

    data consisting of a sequence of characters that can be interpreted as human-readable language.

    Example

    You can save the file as a simple text document if you don't need the formatting.

    Example

    The software is designed to extract raw text from encrypted files without compromising the underlying data structure.
  3. 5 religious or literary passage (n.)
    C1 Advanced Formal Academic Religion

    a specific sentence or short piece of writing from a holy book or a famous story.

    a specific passage from a sacred work or a literary composition used as a subject for analysis or a sermon.

    Example

    The priest chose a short text from the Bible for his morning talk.

    Example

    The scholar spent years deconstructing this specific text, arguing that its original meaning had been lost through centuries of poor translation.
  4. 6 to send a message (v.)
    A2 Elementary Informal

    to send a written message to someone using a mobile phone.

    to transmit a text message to a recipient using a mobile device; used both transitively and intransitively.

    Example

    Text me when you get home so I know you are safe.

    Example

    He was texting his colleagues throughout the conference, sharing observations about the speakers in real time.
Origin

From Middle English text, from Old French texte (“text”), from Medieval Latin textus (“the Scriptures, text, treatise”), from Latin textus (“style or texture of a work”), perfect passive participle of texō (“to weave”). Cognate to English texture.

Word family
Idioms1 entry

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