gesture

UK: /ˈdʒɛstʃə^r/ US: /ˈdʒɛstʃɚ/ ,(jes′chər)

Inflections of 'gesture' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

gestures

v 3rd person singular

gesturing

v pres p

gestured

v past

gestured

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ges•ture /ˈdʒɛstʃɚ/   n., v., -tured, -tur•ing. 
n. 

1. a movement or position of the hand, arm, body, head, or face that expresses an idea, opinion, emotion, etc.:
   [countable] made a threatening gesture.
2. the use of such movements to express thought, emotion, etc.:
   [uncountable] the study of gesture among different cultures.
3. any action, communication, etc., performed or intended for effect or as a formality;
   demonstration:
   [countable] The donation was a gesture of friendship.

v. 

4. to make or use a gesture or gestures (to express something): [no object]
   She gestured to me.
   [~ + that clause]
   He gestured that I could come in.

See -gest-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ges•ture  (jes′chər), n., v., -tured, -tur•ing. 
n. 

1. a movement or position of the hand, arm, body, head, or face that is expressive of an idea, opinion, emotion, etc.:
   the gestures of an orator; a threatening gesture.
2. the use of such movements to express thought, emotion, etc.
3. any action, courtesy, communication, etc., intended for effect or as a formality;
   considered expression;
   demonstration:
   a gesture of friendship.

v.i. 

4. to make or use a gesture or gestures.

v.t. 

5. to express by a gesture or gestures.

• Medieval Latin gestūra mode of action, manner, bearing, equivalent. to Latin gest(us) past participle of gerere to bear, carry on, perform + ūra -ure
• late Middle English 1375–1425

ges′tur•al, adj. 
ges′tur•er, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

gesture / ˈdʒɛstʃə/ noun

1. a motion of the hands, head, or body to emphasize an idea or emotion, esp while speaking
2. something said or done as a formality or as an indication of intention

verb

1. to express by or make gestures; gesticulate

Etymology: 15th Century: from Medieval Latin gestūra bearing, from Latin gestus, past participle of gerere to bear

ˈgestural adjective