word
(=unit of language) mot m
→ The words stood out clearly on the page.
→ The word "ginseng" comes from the Chinese word "Shen-seng".
what's the word for ... ? comment dit-on ... ?
What's the word for "pen" in French? Comment dit-on "pen" en français?
word for word
[repeat]
→ I don't try to memorize speeches word for word. , mot pour mot
[translate] mot à mot
→ You can't translate those expressions word for word.
That's word for word what the man said. C'est mot pour mot ce que l'homme a dit.
to put sth into words exprimer qch
→ Some feelings are really hard to put into words.
in a word en un mot
→ Victor, in a word, got increasingly fed up.
in other words en d'autres termes
→ The mobile library services have been reorganized - in other words, they visit fewer places.
from the word go depuis le début
(=thing said, remark) mot m
not a word pas un mot
Not a word was spoken. Personne ne souffla mot.
I can't understand a word she says. Je ne comprends pas un mot de ce qu'elle dit.
a word of thanks un mot de remerciement
→ May I also say a word of thanks to all the helpers.
a word of warning un avertissement
to have the last word avoir le dernier mot
→ She likes to have the last word in any discussion.
to be the last word in sth
(=ultimate) être le summum de qch
→ It was the last word in luxury
not in so many words pas exactement
→ "Has she agreed?" -- "Not in so many words. But I read her thoughts."
to hang on sb's every word être pendu (e) aux lèvres de qn
a man of few words un homme de peu de mots
a woman of few words une femme de peu de mots
to be lost for words
(=dumbstruck) ne savoir que dire
mark my words souvenez-vous de ce que je dis
to put words in sb's mouth
(=misrepresent) faire dire qch à qn
to take sb's word for it
(=believe without further proof) croire qn sur parole
I'll take your word for it. Je vous crois sur parole.
Take my word for it. Croyez-moi.
→ You'll have trouble if you buy that house, take my word for it.
(=conversation)
to have a word with sb toucher un mot à qn
Can I have a word with you? Puis-je vous toucher un mot?
James, could I have a quiet word? James, puis-je vous toucher un mot en privé?
to have a word with sb about sth parler à qn à propos de qch
I need a word with you about the weekend. J'ai besoin de te parler à propos de ce week-end.
to have words with sb
(=quarrel) avoir des mots avec qn
→ We had words and she stormed out.
(=promise) parole f
You have my word. Vous avez ma parole.
to give sb one's word donner sa parole à qn
→ I give you my word I won't ask him.
to break one's word manquer à sa parole
→ I'm sure you won't break your word on this matter.
to keep one's word tenir sa parole
→ I won't tell anyone - I'll keep my word.
a man of his word un homme de parole
a woman of her word une femme de parole
(=news) nouvelles fpl
→ There is no word from the authorities on the reported attack.
→ The boy brought them word of her visit.
to send word of sth prévenir de qch
→ They didn't even send word of their whereabouts.
to send word of sb envoyer des nouvelles de qn
to leave word that ... faire savoir que ...
→ He left word with Jane that they would be late.
words
npl
[+song] paroles fpl
I really like the words of this song. J'adore les paroles de cette chanson.
vt rédiger, formuler → The letter was worded in such a way as to imply that I was guilty. → I might have worded the letter differently.
code word , codeword, code-word
n
(with recognized meaning)
mot m de passe
→ ... magnum, the code word for launching a radar attack.
→ The caller had failed to use a recognised code word which would have verified the authenticity of the threat
→ The intermediary gave Short a special code word and arranged a time for a contest.
(=euphemism) euphémisme m
→ I think nationalism is just a code word for racism ...
→ `Tired and emotional' is a code word for being drunk.
four-letter word
n gros mot m
household word
n
to make sb's name a household word
(=make famous) rendre le nom de qn célèbre
This'll make your name a household word. Cela va rendre votre nom célèbre.
nonce word
n mot créé pour l'occasion
operative word
n
the operative word le mot qui compte
→ "He's a hard nut to crack," said Sergeant Yates. "Nut being the operative word," said Flint.
→ A small dram of whisky may be prescribed by doctors for those over 60 to help them sleep. It is vital though to emphasize that "small" is the operative word.
printed word
n
the printed word la chose imprimée
root word
n mot m racine
swear word , swearword
n gros mot m , juron m
word association
n association f de mots
word-for-word
adj
[translation] mot à mot
[quotation] mot pour mot
word game
n jeu m de lettres
word of mouth
n
by word of mouth de bouche à oreille
→ The story has been passed down by word of mouth.
word order
n ordre m des mots
word-perfect
adj
to be word-perfect
[actor, speaker, interviewee] être en tout point parfait (e)
→ Ron Raines made his West End debut in the role and was word perfect.
word processing , word-processing
modif
[package, program, software, document] de traitement de texte
[skills] en traitement de texte
→ training in computing and word-processing skills
word processor
n
(=program) traitement m de texte
written word
n
the written word l'écrit m