Colloquial
- Colloquial Col*lo"qui*al, a. [See {Colloqui}.]
Pertaining to, or used in, conversation, esp. common and
familiar conversation; conversational; hence, unstudied;
informal; as, colloquial intercourse; colloquial phrases; a
colloquial style. -- {Col*lo"qui*al*ly}, adv.
[1913 Webster]
His [Johnson's] colloquial talents were, indeed, of the highest order. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
Look at other dictionaries:
colloquial — index ordinary, prevailing (current), prevalent Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law dictionary
colloquial — 1751, from COLLOQUY (Cf. colloquy) a conversation + AL (Cf. al) (1). Related: Colloquially … Etymology dictionary
colloquial — is a term used in dictionaries and books on language to describe the less formal vocabulary and grammar of everyday speech. In some dictionaries, informal is used instead (as being less judgemental), although the implications for usage are the… … Modern English usage
colloquial — [adj] particular, familiar to an area, informal chatty, common, conversational, demotic, dialectal, everyday, idiomatic, jive*, popular, street*, vernacular; concept 267 Ant. correct, formal, standard, stilted … New thesaurus
colloquial — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ (of language) used in ordinary or familiar conversation; not formal or literary. DERIVATIVES colloquially adverb. ORIGIN from Latin colloquium conversation … English terms dictionary
colloquial — [kə lō′kwē əl] adj. [< L colloquium (see COLLOQUY) + AL] 1. having to do with or like conversation; conversational 2. INFORMAL (sense e) colloquially adv … English World dictionary
colloquial — [[t]kəlo͟ʊkwiəl[/t]] ADJ GRADED Colloquial words and phrases are informal and are used mainly in conversation. ...a colloquial expression... His stumbling attempts at colloquial Russian amused her. Derived words: colloquially ADV GRADED ADV with… … English dictionary
colloquial — col•lo•qui•al [[t]kəˈloʊ kwi əl[/t]] adj. 1) characteristic of or suitable to ordinary or familiar conversation or writing rather than formal speech or writing; informal 2) involving or using conversation • Etymology: 1745–55; colloquy+ al… … From formal English to slang
colloquial — colloquially, adv. colloquialness, colloquiality, n. /keuh loh kwee euhl/, adj. 1. characteristic of or appropriate to ordinary or familiar conversation rather than formal speech or writing; informal. 2. involving or using conversation. [1745 55; … Universalium
colloquial — adjective Date: 1751 1. of or relating to conversation ; conversational 2. a. used in or characteristic of familiar and informal conversation; also unacceptably informal b. using conversational style • … New Collegiate Dictionary
