oral

Spoken rather than written.

Of or relating to the mouth.

Used in or taken through the mouth.

Consisting of or using speech.

Articulated through the mouth only, with the nasal passages closed.

Of or relating to the first stage of psychosexual development in psychoanalytic theory, from birth to about 18 months, during which the mouth is the chief focus of exploration and pleasure. The oral stage is followed by the anal stage.

An academic examination in which questions and answers are spoken rather than written.

In crinoids, same as oral valve (which see, under oral).

Of or pertaining to the mouth or ingestive opening: as, the oral orifice; oral surgery; oral gestation.

Uttered by the mouth or in words; spoken, not written: as, oral traditions; oral testimony; oral law.