Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
gestural

gestural

2 6.3
Communication using movements of the hands or body to show meaning
  • adjective
  • /ˈdʒɛstʃərəl/
translation icon : gestual
  • The teacher used gestural communication to help the children understand the lesson better.
  • gestural communication
  • gestural mode
  • gestural language

I can just sort of mark it out on my page in long, fluid gestural marks that are straight and angular.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • She created a series of drawings, watercolours and paintings of balls using gestural brush strokes set against swathes of bright pastel colour fields.

  • Those are very standard gestural icons or, you know, well understood images for things.

  • As the consultation continues, however, both participants become attentive and engaged and use gestural movements.

    Academic text (2010)

  • Instruction designed to teach a new requesting behavior in vocal, graphic, and gestural modes was implemented.

    Academic text (2013)

  • Instructional procedures to teach requests in gestural, graphic, and vocal communication modes served as the independent variable.

    Academic text (2013)

  • The children's numerical conceptions were demonstrated in oral, gestural, and written form.

    Academic text (2009)

  • After focusing on their gestural repertoire, she then explored whether gestures were accompanied by facial expressions.

    Academic text (2009)

  • During the presentation, he relied heavily on gestural cues to emphasize his points.

  • Her gestural expressions conveyed emotions that words could not fully capture.

Synonyms

nonverbal
vsgestural
8 3.7

Showing feelings and ideas without spoken or written words using gestures and facial expressions

is narrower, focusing only on hand and body movements for expression
paralinguistic
vsgestural
  • Specialized
1 8.1

The way people use voice, face, and body to show meaning without words

is narrower, limited to hand and body motion used for expression

How Gestural

nonverbal
8 3.7
gestural
2 6.3
verbal
37 3.2

Surface Forms

gestural positive

Morphology

gestural = gesture (transparent) = gesture + al

The adjective is formed directly from the noun 'gesture' with the common suffix '-al', so the meaning is easily recoverable.

Etymology

Gestural comes from the common word gesture, which comes from the old Latin word gestus meaning 'movement' or 'to carry'. So gestural describes using body movements to communicate without words.