idiomatic

English

WOTD – 17 November 2009

Alternative forms

• idiomatick (obsolete)

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ἰδιωματικός (idiōmatikós, “related to an idiom”), from ἰδίωμα (idíōma, “idiomatic”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌɪdi.əˈmætɪk/

Adjective

idiomatic (comparative more idiomatic, superlative most idiomatic)

1. Pertaining or conforming to the mode of expression characteristic of a language.
2. Resembling or characteristic of an idiom.
3. Using many idioms.
4. (music) Parts or pieces which are written both within the natural physical limitations of the instrument and human body and, less so or less often, the styles of playing used on specific instruments.

Antonyms

• nonidiomatic
• unidiomatic

Related terms

• idiom
• idiomatical
• idiomatically
• idiomaticity

Translations

pertaining or conforming to the mode of expression characteristic of a language

• Czech: idiomatický m
• Danish: idiomatisk (da)
• Finnish: idiomaattinen (fi)
• French: idiomatique (fr) m, f
• German: idiomatisch (de)
• Greek: ιδιωματικός (el) (idiomatikós)
• Italian: idiomatico
• Japanese: 熟語 (ja) (jukugo)

• Norwegian: idiomatisk (no)
• Polish: idiomatyczny
• Portuguese: idiomático (pt) m
• Romanian: idiomatic (ro)
• Russian: идиомати́ческий (ru) (idiomatíčeskij)
• Serbo-Croatian: idiomatski (sh) m, идио̀матскӣ m
• Spanish: idiomático m
• Tagalog: kawikaanin

resembling or characteristic of an idiom

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 象成语

• Finnish: idiomaattinen (fi)
• Manx: corghlaragh
• Norwegian: idiomatisk (no)

• Polish: idiomatyczny
• Russian: идиоматичный (ru) (idiomatichnyi)
• Scottish Gaelic: gnàthasach
• Tagalog: kawikaanin

using many idioms

• Finnish: idiomaattinen (fi)
• Russian: идиоматичный (ru) (idiomatichnyi)

• Scottish Gaelic: gnàthasach

parts or pieces of or styles of playing music

References

• idiomatic in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
• idiomatic in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913