General:
* A single distinct meaningful element of language. This is the most common definition, and it refers to the smallest unit of language that can stand alone. Words can be written, spoken, or signed.
* A unit of language that is a meaningful element of speech. This definition focuses on the spoken aspect of words and how they contribute to communication.
* A spoken or written communication. This definition is broader and can refer to a collection of words used to express an idea or communicate information.
Specific:
* A promise or guarantee. "He gave his word that he would be there."
* A command or order. "The captain gave the word to fire."
* A rumor or news. "Word on the street is that they're getting married."
In Linguistics:
* A minimal free form. This refers to the smallest unit of language that can occur independently in a sentence.
* A lexical unit. This refers to a word that has a specific meaning and is stored in a person's mental lexicon.
In Computing:
* A unit of data. This refers to a sequence of characters, often used in programming or data storage.
It's important to consider the context in which the word "word" is used to understand its intended meaning.