General:
* A single unit of language that has meaning and can be spoken or written. This is the most basic definition.
* A spoken or written symbol that represents a concept, thing, or action. For example, "cat," "run," "love."
* A combination of sounds or letters that represent a concept.
Specific:
* A spoken or written communication. For example, "I have a word with you."
* A promise or agreement. For example, "He gave his word to help."
* A message or information. For example, "Word on the street is..."
In a more technical sense:
* A lexical unit. In linguistics, a word is considered a lexical unit, meaning it is a basic building block of language.
* A morpheme. A morpheme is the smallest unit of language that carries meaning. Words can be made up of one or more morphemes.
In terms of other contexts:
* The spoken or written form of a thought.
* An expression of thought, feeling, or intention.
It's important to consider the context of the word "word" to understand its meaning. For example, "I need to say a word" is different from "I need to find the right word."