tonguing

English

Verb

tonguing

1. present participle and gerund of tongue

Noun

tonguing (countable and uncountable, plural tonguings)

1. A licking or lapping with the tongue.
   • 1992, The Ultimate Sex Book:

     Your partner will be so eager to be licked and caressed that your introductory tonguings in this area just won't be enough.

2. (music) A technique used with wind instruments to enunciate different notes using the tongue on the reed or mouthpiece.
3. (historical) The butchering of a whale.
   • 2010, Martin Gibbs, The Shore Whalers of Western Australia, page 17:

     While there had been four parties operating during 1837, the following season saw a reduction to three stations and one 'tonguing party' that salvaged blubber from the whale carcasses discarded by pelagic whaling vessels.

Derived terms

• double-tonguing
• triple-tonguing