# word

/ˈwɝd/ (US) · /wˈɜːd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/word
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. unit of language

noun · CEFR A1

a single unit of language that has meaning and can be spoken or written.

For teachers: the smallest discrete unit of language that functions as a meaningful component of an utterance.

- I did not understand the last word he said in the sentence.
- The linguist argued that the definition of a word varies significantly between analytic and polysynthetic languages.

### 2. a promise

noun · CEFR B1

a promise or a guarantee that you will do something.

For teachers: an assurance or promise given by a person as a guarantee of their intentions.

- He gave me his word that he would arrive by six o'clock.
- In professional circles, giving one's word is often considered as binding as a written contract.

### 3. news or information

noun · CEFR B1

news or information about something that has happened.

For teachers: information or news, typically transmitted via speech or informal communication.

- We are waiting for word from the hospital about his condition.
- Word reached the capital that the rebels had retreated toward the northern border.

### 4. a short conversation

noun · CEFR A2

a brief talk or discussion with someone.

For teachers: a brief conversation, often private or focused on a specific request.

- Can I have a quick word with you after the meeting?
- The manager requested a word with the supervisor to clarify the new safety protocols.

### 5. computing unit

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a fixed amount of data that a computer processes at one time.

For teachers: the natural unit of data used by a particular processor design, typically 32 or 64 bits.

- The processor uses a 64-bit word to handle complex calculations.
- Memory alignment is crucial because the CPU fetches data in word-sized chunks rather than individual bytes.

### 6. religious scripture

noun · CEFR B2

the Bible or the message of God in Christianity.

For teachers: the scriptures of the Bible or the manifestation of the divine; often capitalized as 'the Word'.

- The priest spent the morning studying the Word.
- The sermon focused on spreading the Word to those who had not yet heard the gospel.

### 7. to phrase something

verb · CEFR B2

to choose specific words to say or write something.

For teachers: to express or phrase a thought or statement in a particular way.

- I need to be careful how I word this email to my boss.
- The legal team carefully worded the disclaimer to minimize the company's liability in case of an accident.

### 8. agreement

interjection · CEFR C1 · Slang · Informal

you say this to show you agree with someone or that they are right.

For teachers: an exclamation used to express agreement, affirmation, or acknowledgment of the truth.

- "That movie was amazing." "Word."
- He just nodded and said "Word" when I told him the party was going to be crowded.

## Examples

- I do not know the meaning of this word.
- The teacher asked the students to write down every word they heard during the short audio clip.
- Linguistic analysis often begins by categorising each word according to its grammatical function within the broader syntactic structure of the sentence.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.