text
text / tekst/ • n. 1. a book or other written or printed work, regarded in terms of its content rather than its physical form: a text which explores pain and grief. ∎ a piece of written or printed material regarded as conveying the authentic or primary form of a particular work: in some passages it is difficult to establish the original text the text of the lecture was available to guests. ∎ written or printed words, typically forming a connected piece of work: stylistic features of journalistic text. ∎ Comput. data in written form, esp. when stored, processed, or displayed in a word processor. ∎ a text message. ∎ [in sing.] the main body of a book or other piece of writing, as distinct from other material such as notes, appendices, and illustrations: the pictures are clear and relate well to the text. ∎ a script or libretto. ∎ a written work chosen or assigned as a subject of study: the book is intended as a secondary text for religion courses. ∎ a textbook. ∎ a passage from the Bible or other religious work, esp. when used as the subject of a sermon. ∎ a subject or theme for a discussion or exposition: he took as his text the fact that Australia is paradise.2. (also text-hand) fine, large handwriting, used esp. for manuscripts.• v. to send a text message: I thought it was fantastic that he took the trouble to text me.DERIVATIVES: text·less adj.