speaking in tongues
"Speaking in tongues" is often associated with religious practices, particularly in Pentecostal and charismatic Christianity, where it is seen as a divine language or a form of communication with God.
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Definition
B2Religious Practice
(spiritual, christianity)Uttering speech-like sounds or languages not known to the speaker, often believed to be a divine language.
Example
- During the service, several members of the congregation began speaking in tongues.
- She described her experience of speaking in tongues as a profound spiritual moment.
C1Linguistic
(technical)The fluid vocalizing of speech-like syllables that lack any comprehensible meaning, known as glossolalia.
Example
- Linguists study glossolalia to understand its phonetic and psychological aspects.
B2Metaphorical
(informal, figurative)Describing a situation where people do not understand each other, often used metaphorically.
Example
- In the meeting, it felt like everyone was speaking in tongues, as no one could agree on the terms.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "speaking in tongues":