Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense gestures, present participle gesturing, past tense, past participle gestured
1. countable noun
A gesture is a movement that you make with a part of your body, especially your hands, to express emotion or information.
Sarah made a menacing gesture with her fist.
He throws his hands open in a gesture which clearly indicates his relief.
Synonyms: sign, action, signal, motion More Synonyms of gesture
2. countable noun
A gesture is something that you say or do in order to express your attitude or intentions, often something that you know will not have much effect.
I wasn't expecting a fortune, just a gesture of goodwill. [+ of]
There's not greater gesture of love than having someone's name tattooed on your body.
As a gesture to security, cars were fitted with special locks.
3. verb
If you gesture, you use movements of your hands or head in order to tell someone something or draw their attention to something.
I gestured towards the boathouse, and he looked inside. [VERB preposition]
He gestures, gesticulates, and moves with the grace of a dancer. [VERB]
Synonyms: signal, sign, wave, indicate More Synonyms of gesture
More Synonyms of gesture
gesture in British English
(ˈdʒɛstʃə)
noun
1.
a motion of the hands, head, or body to emphasize an idea or emotion, esp while speaking
2.
something said or done as a formality or as an indication of intention
a political gesture
3. obsolete
the manner in which a person bears himself or herself; posture
verb
4.
to express by or make gestures; gesticulate
Derived forms
gestural (ˈgestural)
adjective
gesturer (ˈgesturer)
noun
Word origin
C15: from Medieval Latin gestūra bearing, from Latin gestus, past participle of gerere to bear
gesture in American English
(ˈdʒɛstʃər)
noun
1.
a movement, or movements collectively, of the body, or of part of the body, to expressor emphasize ideas, emotions, etc.
2.
anything said or done to convey a state of mind, intention, etc.; often, something said or done merely for effect or as a formality
a gesture of sympathy
verb intransitiveWord forms: ˈgestured or ˈgesturing
3.
to make or use a gesture or gestures
verb transitive
4.
to express with a gesture or gestures
Derived forms
gestural (ˈgestural)
adjective
gesturer (ˈgesturer)
noun
Word origin
ME < ML gestura, mode of action < L gestus, pp. of gerere, to bear, carry
COBUILD Collocations
gesture
dramatic gesture
empty gesture
futile gesture
generous gesture
grand gesture
hand gesture
obscene gesture
romantic gesture
rude gesture
symbolic gesture
token gesture
Examples of 'gesture' in a sentence
gesture
He was theatrical and given to grand gestures.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
One wondered what symbolic gesture would please him.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Your account has also been credited with 100 as a gesture of goodwill.
The Sun (2016)
The debt has finally been wiped and you have received 100 as a goodwill gesture.
The Sun (2016)
It will waive the normal administration fees that go with this, as a gesture of goodwill.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It is also sending you a cheque for 500 as a gesture of goodwill.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
It also gave you an extra 45 as a goodwill gesture.
The Sun (2016)
Is he, er, always prone to such grand gestures?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
If you want to make a big gesture, there's little better than the gift of a holiday.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Neither should the gestures he makes, such as sending signed shirts to poorly fans who need a leg up from the England captain.
The Sun (2016)
Use big dramatic gestures so that we begin to express it physically.
Bain, Roly Fools Rush In - A Call to Christian Clowning (1993)
It was a typical gesture of love and togetherness.
The Sun (2011)
Perhaps he thought it was a romantic gesture or maybe he was just extremely bored.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
We take any threats or gestures that opponents make towards us within the context of the game.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Many of the most powerful symbolic gestures have taken place on the field of play.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
But is this often a token gesture?
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
We have adopted postures and gestures and manners that pronounce our chosen status.
Bain, Roly Fools Rush In - A Call to Christian Clowning (1993)
Simple gestures of affection tell you love is the real deal.
The Sun (2012)
Ease up on the romantic gestures and find a new ambition.
The Sun (2007)
He would make dramatic gestures with his pipe.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
It was a time when seemingly small symbolic gestures wrought seismic change.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Learn how to use your posture and gestures to get ahead at work.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Good servants so fixed their attention on their master that the slightest gesture would tell them what to do.
Christianity Today (2000)
We will offer 20 per cent off the bill as a goodwill gesture.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
There's simply no money left to repeat that sort of grand gesture.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
He had a tattoo of his ex's name removed as a love gesture.
The Sun (2012)
We offered 25 as a goodwill gesture.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
But the memories are often vague, gesturing towards emotional needs that struggle for articulation.
The Times Literary Supplement (2011)
But of course, this was not the aim of a book made up of grand gestures.
The Times Literary Supplement (2012)
No gestures to the crowd.
The Sun (2010)
He made a monkey gesture at the crowd as he left the field, a reference to the jibes that had been directed at him.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It's a wonderful, heartfelt gesture of peace and respect.
The Sun (2015)
Things like attitude, gestures, and the look in their eyes are important.
The Sun (2013)
In other languages
gesture
British English: gesture /ˈdʒɛstʃə/ NOUN
A gesture is a movement that you make with a part of your body, especially your hands, to express emotion or information.
Sarah made a menacing gesture with her fist.
American English: gesture
Arabic: إيـْمَاءَة
Brazilian Portuguese: gesto
Chinese: 姿态
Croatian: gesta
Czech: gesto
Danish: gestus
Dutch: gebaar
European Spanish: gesto
Finnish: ele
French: geste
German: Geste
Greek: χειρονομία
Italian: gesto
Japanese: 身振り
Korean: 몸짓
Norwegian: gest
Polish: gest
European Portuguese: gesto
Romanian: gest
Russian: жест
Latin American Spanish: gesto
Swedish: gest
Thai: ท่าทาง
Turkish: jest
Ukrainian: жест
Vietnamese: cử chỉ
British English: gesture VERB
If you gesture, you use movements of your hands or head in order to tell someone something or draw their attention to something.
I gestured towards the boathouse, and he looked inside.
American English: gesture
Brazilian Portuguese: gesticular
Chinese: 用动作示意
European Spanish: hacer gestos
French: faire un geste
German: gestikulieren
Italian: far segno
Japanese: 手ぶりで示す
Korean: 손짓이나 몸짓을 하다
European Portuguese: gesticular
Latin American Spanish: hacer gestos
All related terms of 'gesture'
empty gesture
A gesture is something that you say or do in order to express your attitude or intentions , often something that you know will not have much effect.
grand gesture
A gesture is something that you say or do in order to express your attitude or intentions , often something that you know will not have much effect.
hand gesture
A gesture is a movement that you make with a part of your body, especially your hands , to express emotion or information.
rude gesture
A gesture is a movement that you make with a part of your body, especially your hands , to express emotion or information.
token gesture
A gesture is something that you say or do in order to express your attitude or intentions , often something that you know will not have much effect.
futile gesture
A gesture is something that you say or do in order to express your attitude or intentions , often something that you know will not have much effect.
obscene gesture
A gesture is a movement that you make with a part of your body, especially your hands, to express emotion or information.
dramatic gesture
A gesture is something that you say or do in order to express your attitude or intentions , often something that you know will not have much effect.
generous gesture
A gesture is something that you say or do in order to express your attitude or intentions , often something that you know will not have much effect.
gesture politics
Politics are the actions or activities concerned with achieving and using power in a country or society. The verb that follows politics may be either singular or plural .
romantic gesture
A gesture is something that you say or do in order to express your attitude or intentions , often something that you know will not have much effect.
symbolic gesture
A gesture is something that you say or do in order to express your attitude or intentions , often something that you know will not have much effect.