ora-, or-, orat-; os- +

1. To kiss together, to touch: When Jack picked up his wife at the train station after she arrived, they interosculated and talked together softly.
2. To form a connecting link, as between objects, genera, etc: Certain organisms or species interosculate in that they share specific characteristics.
3. Etymology: from Latin osculat-, "kissed"; from the verb osculari, from osculum, "little mouth" or "kiss".

1. Someone, or something, considered to be a source of knowledge, wisdom, or prophecy: In the fantasy story, the oracle suddenly appeared and spoke to the young man.
2. A wise or prophetic statementL One example of an oracle could be, "Do unto others as they do unto you."
3. In ancient Greece and Rome, a shrine dedicated to a particular god, or goddess: An oracle was a place where people went to consult a priest, or priestess, in times of trouble or uncertainty.

One of the most famous was the Delphic Oracle of Apollo.

4. An ancient Greek or Roman deity that a priest, or priestess, would consult for advice on behalf of troubled or uncertain people: Sharon read in her book that a oracle could be asked for guidance in trouble times.

An oracle can be a piece of advice, often in the form of a puzzle or an enigmatic statement, handed down by an ancient Greek or Roman deity.
5. A message believed to come from God in response to a request, plea, or petition: Marie was waiting anxiously for an oracle from God in response to her prayer,
6. The most sacred area in either of the Temples mentioned in the Bible: An oracle was often referred to as the Holy of Holies.

1. Of, relating to, or being an oracle: Mary was hoping for some oracular advice from the pastor in her church.
2. Resembling or characteristic of an oracle; such as, solemnly prophetic, enigmatic, or obscure: The oracular prophesy was so general, unclear, and indefinite that Jenny had to wait for another answer!
3. Regarding the claims of authority of an oracle: The pastor of the church held forth in an oracular fashion until he knew that the time had come to depart the news.

A reference to the nature of, resembling, or suggesting how an oracle is presented: Mary responded oracularly when asked to foretell her friend's future.

Sam talked oracularly to his listeners by giving forth utterances as if by special inspiration or authority.

The pastor spoke oracularlyin the sermon as if divinely inspired.

1. Relating to something that is toward the mouth or oral region: Tom moved his food in an orad direction so he could eat it.
2. Pertaining to something that is situated nearer the mouth in relation to a specific reference point: Judy noticed a strange spot in an orad location on her face and went to the dermatologist to get it checked up on.

The adjective orad is the opposite of aborad.

1. Relating to or belonging to the mouth: The dentist reminded Jill to continue good oral hygiene in order to avoid the possibilities of cavities..
2. Designed for use in the mouth: One oral device is the common toothbrush!
3. Expressed in spoken form as distinct from written form: Each student had to stand up and give an oral report in front of the class.
4. A reference to medicines that are taken by mouth: Dr. Lawson told Jim to gargle and wash his mouth with the oral fluid he wanted to prescribe for him.
5. Referring to vocal articulation through the mouth only: An oral speech sound can be produced by means of an airstream that escapes only through the mouth with the nasal cavity sealed off by the velum.
6. In Freudian analysis, a descriptive stage in child development when erotic pleasure is derived from mouth-associated sensations: Oral enjoyment is obtained especially through feeding, thumb-sucking, and putting objects into the mouth.
7. In Freudian analysis, a description of a dependent, selfish, and aggressive personality type with a tendency to derive pleasure from mouth-related activities: Oral satisfactions can be eating, drinking, smoking, etc.
8. In biology, pertaining to where the mouth is sited: The oral opening of a starfish is located on the underside surface of its body.
9. In education, regarding an examination, or test, that involves candidates giving spoken answers to spoken questions: The final exams included oral tests in addition to those with questions and answers in written form.

A pleonasm or a redundant phrase: The women talked among themselves in an oral conversation, which turned out to be quite boring because they repeated themselves too much.

A burning sensation in one or several parts of the mouth: Mildred's neighbor, Edward, consulted Dr. Carsley, the dentist, about the oral dyesthesia he was experiencing.

Oral dyesthesia occurs more often in the elderly and is generally related to menopausal, psychological, or psychopathological factors.

Identified causes of oral dyesthesia are denture irritation, yeast infection, decreased salivary production, and systemic factors, such as nutritional and estrogen deficiencies, and sensory neuropathies.

Treatment of oral dyesthesias consists of therapy for whatever has caused the condition.

A collection and study of historical information using sound recording of interviews with people having personal knowledge of past events: Mr. Smart, Jim's teacher, asked the students to collect important historical information about families, important events, or even about everyday life with the use of audio tapes, video tapes, or recordings on the phones to present an oral history in class the following week.

A branch of surgery that treats deformities, injuries, or diseases of the teeth and jaw; as well as, other areas of the face and mouth: Surgeons doing oral surgery are usually qualified dentists who have done further training in oral and maxillofacial (jaws and face) surgery.

A system of teaching profoundly deaf people to communicate with the use of speech and lip-reading rather than with sign language: The art of oralism consists of reading the movement of lips when a person talks, and of mastering breathing techniques.

A person who uses oral methods to teach a person who is deaf: The oralist helped a profoundly deaf person to use speech and lip-reading to communicate, rather than by using sign language.

1. The situation of spoken or verbal communication:Jill never wrote messages to her friend, but used the method of orality to tell her friend interesting bits of her life.
2. A preference for, or tendency to use, spoken forms of language: Since Doug was poor in writing (he made so many mistakes), he liked to make use of orality instead.

1. Relating to how communication is spoken rather than by written procedures: The students in class presented their book reports orally in addition to turning in the report in written form as well.
2. Concerning how pharmaceutical drugs are taken by way of the mouth: rather than through injection: Dr. Smart told Jim to take his medicine orally, one pill per day.
3. Pertaining to the mouth; taken through or applied in the mouth: The professional dental cleaning process is always done orally.

1. To make a speech, especially a public, formal, or ceremonial speech: The principal of the high school orated at the graduation ceremony and congratulated those who received high honors.
2. To speak in a pompous, or boring way, or for an inappropriately long time: The president of the company orated at the formal dinner and it was am endless talk and quite boring, and he didn't notice that people were leaving the table one by one.