1. As a noun:
* Individual sound or sounds: This is the most basic definition, referring to a single unit of speech, like "cat," "dog," or "run."
* A unit of written language: A word is also a written representation of a sound or sounds, like "hello," "goodbye," or "amazing."
* Spoken or written expression: This definition encompasses the entire message conveyed by a sequence of words, like "I love you" or "What is your favorite color?".
* Promise or pledge: "He gave his word to help."
* News or information: "I haven't heard a word from him."
* A command or order: "Do as I say, word for word."
2. As a verb:
* To express something in words: "Can you word it differently?"
* To put into words: "It's hard to word my feelings."
3. As an adjective:
* Related to words: "He has a good word vocabulary."
* Expressed in words: "His wordless message was clear."
4. In phrases and idioms:
* Have a word with someone: To talk to someone.
* Put in a good word for someone: To recommend someone.
* Keep your word: To honor a promise.
* Word of mouth: Information spread by people talking to each other.
* The word is out: The information has become widely known.
5. In technical contexts:
* Computer science: A word can refer to a specific unit of data.
* Linguistics: A word can be analyzed in terms of its morphology, syntax, and semantics.
Ultimately, the meaning of "word" is flexible and depends on how it is used in a particular sentence or context.