{
    "term": "language",
    "partOfSpeech": "noun",
    "ox3000": true,
    "cefr": "a1",
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "the system of communication in speech and writing that is used by people of a particular country or area",
            "cefr": "a1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "the English language"
                },
                {
                    "text": "It takes a long time to learn to **speak a language** well."
                },
                {
                    "text": "All the children must learn a **foreign language**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "German is my **native language**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Is English an **official language** in your country?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The novel has been translated into over twenty languages."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She **has a good command of the** Spanish **language**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Good **language skills** are essential in this job."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They fell in love in spite of **the language barrier** *(= the difficulty of communicating when people speak different languages)*."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Why study Latin? It's a **dead language** *(= no longer spoken by anyone)*."
                },
                {
                    "text": "How many foreign languages does she speak?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Most local cinemas show films in the original language, with German subtitles."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Portuguese is the national language of Brazil."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Some minority languages are dying out."
                },
                {
                    "text": "idiomatic expressions that enrich the language"
                },
                {
                    "text": "manuscripts written in an unknown language"
                },
                {
                    "text": "She could speak some Chinese, but never studied the written language."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Language"],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["first", "native", "foreign"],
                "verb + language": ["speak", "know", "understand"],
                "language + noun": ["acquisition", "development", "learning"],
                "phrases": [
                    "command of (a) language",
                    "knowledge of (a) language",
                    "mastery of (a) language"
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "the use by humans of a system of sounds and words to communicate",
            "cefr": "a1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "a qualification in **language teaching**"
                },
                {
                    "text": "a study of **language acquisition** in two-year-olds"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Language is constantly evolving."
                },
                {
                    "text": "theories about the origins of language"
                },
                {
                    "text": "new methods of language learning"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Her command of language is very advanced for a six-year-old."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Language"],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["spoken", "written", "colloquial"],
                "verb + language": ["use", "be couched in", "be expressed in"],
                "preposition": ["in…language"],
                "phrases": ["use of language"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "a particular style of speaking or writing",
            "cefr": "a1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "**spoken/written language**"
                },
                {
                    "text": "literary/poetic language"
                },
                {
                    "text": "**foul language** *(= words that people may consider offensive)*"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The poem **uses** distinctly modern **language**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "His strength is that he addresses his readers in plain language."
                },
                {
                    "text": "the language of science"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Give your instructions in everyday language."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They were shouting and using foul language."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The following programme contains strong language."
                },
                {
                    "text": "people using foul language"
                },
                {
                    "text": "She reserved her harshest language for those she believed had betrayed her."
                },
                {
                    "text": "His letter was couched in very formal language."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The writer's use of language reflects the personality of each character."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Language"],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["spoken", "written", "colloquial"],
                "verb + language": ["use", "be couched in", "be expressed in"],
                "preposition": ["in…language"],
                "phrases": ["use of language"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 4,
            "definition": "a way of expressing ideas and feelings using movements, symbols and sound",
            "cefr": "a1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "the language of mime"
                },
                {
                    "text": "the language of dolphins/bees"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 5,
            "definition": "a system of symbols and rules that is used to operate a computer",
            "cefr": "a1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "a **programming language**"
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Computers"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to be careful about what you say in order not to upset or offend somebody",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Watch your language, young man!"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The referee told the players to mind their language."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to be able to communicate easily with another person because you share similar opinions and experience",
            "examples": [],
            "topics": ["Opinion and argument"]
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ/",
                "audio": "la/language/language__gb_1.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ/",
                "audio": "la/language/language__us_1.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "Middle English: from Old French langage, based on Latin lingua ‘tongue’."
}