¹text

noun \ˈtekst\

: the original words of a piece of writing or a speech

: the words that make up the main part of a book, magazine, newspaper, Web site, etc.

: a book or other piece of writing; especially : one that is studied

Full Definition of TEXT

a (1) : the original words and form of a written or printed work (2) : an edited or emended copy of an original work

b : a work containing such text

a : the main body of printed or written matter on a page

b : the principal part of a book exclusive of front and back matter

c : the printed score of a musical composition

a (1) : a verse or passage of Scripture chosen especially for the subject of a sermon or for authoritative support (as for a doctrine) (2) : a passage from an authoritative source providing an introduction or basis (as for a speech)

b : a source of information or authority

: theme, topic

a : the words of something (as a poem) set to music

b : matter chiefly in the form of words or symbols that is treated as data for processing by computerized equipment <text-editing software>

: a type suitable for printing running text

: textbook

a : something (as a story or movie) considered as an object to be examined, explicated, or deconstructed

b : something likened to a text <the surfaces of daily life are texts to be explicated — Michiko Kakutani>

: frame of reference 2 <updated to fit the women's lib text for consciousness raising — Judith Crist>

: text message <sent a text with the details>

See text defined for English-language learners

See text defined for kids

Origin of TEXT

Middle English, from Anglo-French tiste, texte, from Medieval Latin textus, from Latin, texture, context, from texere to weave — more at technical

First Known Use: 14th century