What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Gesture vs Pose - What's the difference?

gesture | pose |

In obsolete terms the difference between gesture and pose

is that gesture is the manner of carrying the body; position of the body or limbs; posture while pose is to ask (someone) questions; to interrogate.

In intransitive terms the difference between gesture and pose

is that gesture is to make a gesture or gestures while pose is assume or maintain a pose; strike an attitude.

In transitive terms the difference between gesture and pose

is that gesture is to accompany or illustrate with gesture or action while pose is to constitute (a danger, a threat, a risk, etc.).

As an adjective posé is

standing still, with all the feet on the ground.

gesture

Noun

(en noun)
  • A motion of the limbs or body, especially one made to emphasize speech.
  • The middle-finger gesture is really a nonverbal swear.
    This Web browser can be controlled with mouse gestures .
  • * Milton
  • Grace was in all her steps, heaven in her eye, / In every gesture dignity and love.
  • An act or a remark made as a formality or as a sign of attitude.
  • We took flowers as a gesture of sympathy.
  • * '>citation
  • (obsolete) The manner of carrying the body; position of the body or limbs; posture.
  • * Sir Thomas Browne
  • Accubation, or lying down at meals, was a gesture used by many nations.

    Verb

  • To make a gesture or gestures.
  • My dad said to never gesture with my hands when I talk.
    Never gesture at someone with a middle finger.
  • To express something by a gesture or gestures.
  • He gestured his disgust.
  • To accompany or illustrate with gesture or action.
  • * Hooker
  • It is not orderly read, nor gestured as beseemeth.

    Synonyms

    * gesticulate

    Hyponyms

    * beckon

    See also

    *

    pose

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) pose, from (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) common cold, head cold; catarrh
  • * 1586 , W. Harrison
  • Now have we many chimnies, and yet our tenderlings complain of rheums, catarrhs, and poses .

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) posen, from (etyl) ; influenced by (etyl) ponere.

    Verb

    (pos)
  • To place in an attitude or fixed position, for the sake of effect.
  • To pose a model for a picture.
  • Ask; set (a test, quiz, riddle, etc.).
  • To constitute (a danger, a threat, a risk, etc.).
  • * 2010 , Noam Chomsky, The Iranian threat , Z Magazine, vol 23, number 7:
  • Rather, they are concerned with the threat Iran poses to the region and the world.
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2011 , date=September 2 , author=Phil McNulty , title=Bulgaria 0-3 England , work=BBC citation , page= , passage=Rooney's United team-mate Chris Smalling was given his debut at right-back and was able to adjust to the international stage in relatively relaxed fashion as Bulgaria barely posed a threat of any consequence.}}
  • * 2014 , Ian Black, " Courts kept busy as Jordan works to crush support for Isis", The Guardian , 27 November 2014:
  • The threat the most radical of them pose is evidently far greater at home than abroad: in one characteristically slick and chilling Isis video – entitled “a message to the Jordanian tyrant” – a smiling, long-haired young man in black pats the explosive belt round his waist as he burns his passport and his fellow fighters praise the memory of Zarqawi, who was killed in Iraq in 2006.
  • Assume or maintain a pose; strike an attitude.
  • * Thackeray
  • He posed before her as a hero.
  • (obsolete) To interrogate; to question.
  • * Francis Bacon
  • She posed him and sifted him.
  • (obsolete) To question with a view to puzzling; to embarrass by questioning or scrutiny; to bring to a stand.
  • * Barrow
  • A question wherewith a learned Pharisee thought to pose and puzzle him.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Position, posture, arrangement (especially of the human body).
  • *
  • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=5 , passage=Then came a maid with hand-bag and shawls, and after her a tall young lady. She stood for a moment holding her skirt above the grimy steps, with something of the stately pose which Richter has given his Queen Louise on the stairway,
  • Affectation.
  • Derived terms
    * posable

    Etymology 3

    From (etyl) posen, a combination of aphetic forms of (etyl) aposen and opposen. More at appose, oppose.

    Alternative forms

    * (l)

    Verb

    (pos)
  • (obsolete) To ask (someone) questions; to interrogate.
  • * 1526 , William Tyndale, trans. Bible , Luke II:
  • And hit fortuned that after .iii. dayes, they founde hym in the temple sittinge in the middes of the doctours, both hearynge them, and posinge them.
  • to puzzle, non-plus, or embarrass with difficult questions.
  • To perplex or confuse (someone).
  • Derived terms
    * poser