oral

Universal Words adjective, noun adjective 1 [usuallybeforenoun] spoken rather than written: a test of both oral and written French * oral evidence * stories passed on by oral tradition compareVERBAL 2 [onlybeforenoun] connected with the mouth: oral hygiene * oral sex (= using the mouth to STIMULATE sb's sex organs) * an oral contraceptive (= that is swallowed like medicine) orally adverb: Answers can be written or presented orally on tape. * not to be taken orally (= a warning on some medicines to show that they must not be swallowed) noun 1 (especially BrE) a spoken exam, especially in a foreign language: a French oral * He failed the oral. 2 (AmE) a spoken exam in a university