gesticulation

/dʒɛˌstɪkjuˈleɪʃən/

Other forms: gesticulations

A gesticulation is a dramatic movement that gets attention. Some stand-up comedians dash across the stage, throwing their hands around, as they act out what they are talking about. These gesticulations become part of the act.

You can see the word gesture in gesticulation. When you gesture, you move in a way that communicates feelings about what you're saying, such as shrugging your shoulders while saying, "I don't know." A gesticulation is even more emphatic than that — a gesture might be a shrug of the shoulders, but add upturned palms and a comical facial expression that shows confusion and you have gesticulation.

Definitions of gesticulation

1. noun

   a deliberate and vigorous gesture or motion
   type of:

   gesture, motion

   the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals