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Definition of spoken adjective from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

spoken

adjective
 
 
/ˈspəʊkən/
 
/ˈspəʊkən/
Word Family
  • speak verb
  • speaker noun
  • speech noun
  • spoken adjective (≠ unspoken)
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  1.  
     involving speaking rather than writing; expressed in speech rather than in writing
    • spoken English
    • The spoken language differs considerably from the written language.
    • spoken commands
    • a comic opera with spoken dialogue
    Synonyms spokenspokenoral ▪ vocalThese words all describe producing language using the voice, rather than writing.spoken (of language) produced using the voice; said rather than written:
    • an exam in spoken English
    oral [usually before noun] spoken rather than written:
    • There will be a test of both oral and written French.
     spoken or oral?Both of these words can be used to refer to language skills and the communication of information: spoken/​oral French • a spoken/​oral presentation . In these cases oral is slightly more technical than spoken. Oral but not spoken can also be used with words such as tradition, culture and legends to talk about the way in which people pass stories down from one generation to the next, and in legal contexts followed by words such as evidence and hearing. vocal [usually before noun] connected with the voice:
    • vocal music
    • the vocal organs (= the tongue, lips, etc.)
    Vocal is used to talk about the ability to produce sounds using the voice, and is often used in musical contexts when referring to singing.    Patterns
    • spoken/​oral French/​English/​Japanese, etc.
    • spoken/​oral language skills
  2. (following an adverb) speaking in the way mentioned
    • a quietly spoken man
    see also outspoken, plain-spoken, soft-spoken, well spoken
See spoken in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee spoken in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: spoken

Nearby words

trait
noun
 
 
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