D defs.my
Entry 6 senses · 2 variants Webster, 1913

Verbal

/vûrʹ-bəl/ · Ver·bal · IPA /ˈvɜː.bəl/
01 a. Expressed in words, whether spoken or written, but commonly in spoken words; hence, spoken; oral; not written; as, a verbal contract; verba…
  1. 1.
    Expressed in words, whether spoken or written, but commonly in spoken words; hence, spoken; oral; not written; as, a verbal contract; verbal testimony.
    “Made she no verbal question?” Shak.
    “We subjoin an engraving . . . which will give the reader a far better notion of the structure than any verbal description could convey to the mind.” — Mayhew.
  2. 2.
    Consisting in, or having to do with, words only; dealing with words rather than with the ideas intended to be conveyed; as, a verbal critic; a verbal change.
    “And loses, though but verbal, his reward.” Milton.
    “Mere verbal refinements, instead of substantial knowledge.” Whewell.
  3. 3.
    Having word answering to word; word for word; literal; as, a verbal translation.
  4. 4.
    Abounding with words; verbose.[Obs.]
  5. 5.
    Of or pertaining to a verb; as, a verbal group; derived directly from a verb; as, a verbal noun; used in forming verbs; as, a verbal prefix.(Gram.)
Phrases & compounds
Verbal inspiration — See under Inspiration.
Verbal noun — a noun derived directly from a verb or verb stem; a verbal. The term is specifically applied to infinitives, and nouns ending in -ing, esp. to the latter. See Gerund, and -ing, 2. See also, Infinitive mood, under Infinitive.
02 n. A noun derived from a verb.
  1. 1.
    A noun derived from a verb.(Gram.)