an examination conducted by spoken communication
"The doctor insisted on a thorough oral exam rather than relying solely on X-rays to diagnose my toothache."
A spoken test or examination, particularly in a language class.
"The teacher announced that we would have an oral exam on Friday to practice our pronunciation without relying on written notes."
In plain English: An oral is a formal speech given by someone who has been appointed to represent their group at an official meeting.
"The dentist asked me to bring my family's oral history to the next meeting."
Usage: Oral is primarily an adjective describing something spoken rather than written, so it does not function as a noun to refer to a test. Instead, use the phrase "oral exam" or "oral test," where oral modifies the type of assessment being administered.
of or relating to or affecting or for use in the mouth
"oral hygiene"
"an oral thermometer"
"an oral vaccine"
a stage in psychosexual development when the child's interest is concentrated in the mouth; fixation at this stage is said to result in dependence, selfishness, and aggression
"The therapist suggested that his constant need for reassurance stemmed from an unresolved oral fixation formed during early childhood."
Relating to the mouth.
"The dentist examined my oral hygiene before applying the new fluoride treatment."
Done or taken by the mouth.
"The doctor advised me to take all my medication orally rather than through an injection."
In plain English: Oral means something that is done with your mouth, like speaking or eating.
"The doctor told me to use an oral rinse to keep my mouth clean."
Usage: While "oral" technically refers to the mouth, it is often misused when describing spoken communication; in such cases, use "verbal" instead. Reserve "oral" strictly for matters involving the mouth itself, such as an oral exam or oral hygiene.
A male given name from Latin of American usage
"The government is planning to expand the oral railway station to accommodate more tourists visiting the historic Silk Road site."
A city in Kazakhstan
The word oral entered English in the early 17th century from the Late Latin term oralis, which was derived from os meaning "mouth." It originally described anything related to or involving the mouth.