verbal Meaning, Definition & Usage

adjective satellite communicated in the form of words
- verbal imagery
- a verbal protest
adjective of or relating to or formed from words in general
- verbal ability
adjective of or relating to or formed from a verb
- verbal adjectives like `running' in `hot and cold running water'
adjective relating to or having facility in the use of words
- a good poet is a verbal artist
- a merely verbal writer who sacrifices content to sound
- verbal aptitude
adjective satellite expressed in spoken words
- a verbal contract
adjective satellite prolix
- you put me to forget a lady's manners by being so verbal"- Shakespeare

F., fr. L. verbalis. See Verb.

Expressed in words, whether spoken or written, but commonly in spoken words; hence, spoken; oral; not written; as, a verbal contract; verbal testimony.
Made she no verbal question? Shak.

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. Mayhew.
Consisting in, or having to do with, words only; dealing with words rather than with the ideas intended to be conveyed; as, a verbal critic; a verbal change.
And loses, though but verbal, his reward. Milton.

Mere verbal refinements, instead of substantial knowledge. Whewell.
Having word answering to word; word for word; literal; as, a verbal translation.
Abounding with words; verbose. Obs. Shak.
(Gram.) Of or pertaining to a verb; as, a verbal group; derived directly from a verb; as, a verbal noun; used in forming verbs; as, a verbal prefix.