Text
/tɛkst/
Definitions
2 meaningsThe main body of a written or printed work; the words and sentences that make up something written.
/tɛkst/
Written or printed words
The text of the book was filled with interesting stories.
💡 Simply: Imagine a book. The 'text' is all the words inside the book – the story, the facts, everything written down. It's the same with a text message; it's the words you type.
👶 For kids: The words that are written or printed.
More Examples
She sent a text message to her friend.
The lawyer read the text of the contract carefully.
How It's Used
"The author revised the text of the novel multiple times."
"Students are required to read the assigned texts for the course."
"I received a text message from my friend."
To send someone a text message.
/tɛkst/
Send a text message
Can you text me the address?
💡 Simply: It's like sending a little note on your phone. You type some words and then send them. It's called 'texting'.
👶 For kids: To send a message on your phone to someone else.
More Examples
I texted him to see if he was coming.
She was texting her friend during the meeting.
How It's Used
"I'll text you when I arrive."
Idioms & expressions
read between the lines
To understand something that is not stated directly; to infer meaning.
"I had to read between the lines of his email to understand what he really meant."
From Latin *textus* meaning 'something woven, a web' (related to *texere*, 'to weave'). Initially referred to the woven structure of a piece of writing, later evolving to mean the writing itself.
Historically, 'text' was used to describe the main body of a written work before the invention of printing. Over time, it also referred to individual messages.
Memory tip
Think of a 'text' as the words on a page like the ones you are reading.
Word Origin
"'to weave'"