verbal

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   communicated in the form of words

   Verbal imagery is central to poetry.

2. 2
   adj

   prolix

   The interviewee was quite verbal.

3. 3
   adj

   relating to or having facility in the use of words

   A good poet is a verbal artist.

4. 4
   adj

   expressed in spoken words

   A verbal contract is binding in many jurisdictions.

5. 5
   adj

   of or relating to or formed from a verb

   Verbal adjectives like 'running' in 'hot and cold running water' are common.

6. 6
   adj

   of or relating to or formed from words in general

   Verbal ability is essential to many professions.

7. 7
   adj

   Consisting of words only.

   We subjoin an engraving […] which will give the reader a far better notion of the structure than any verbal description could convey to the mind.

8. 8
   adj

   Expressly spoken rather than written; oral.

   a verbal contract

Etymology

From Old French verbal, from Late Latin verbālis (“belonging to a word”). Equivalent to verb + -al.