Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1400-1500
Language: Medieval Latin
Origin: gestura, from Latin gestus 'action, gesture', from gerere 'to bear'

gesture

1 noun
     
ges‧ture1 W3
1 [uncountable and countable] a movement of part of your body, especially your hands or head, to show what you mean or how you feel
in a ... gesture (of something)
Jim raised his hands in a despairing gesture.
Luke made an obscene gesture with his finger.
gesture of
She shook her head with a gesture of impatience.
2 [countable] something that you say or do, often something small, to show how you feel about someone or somethingCOLLOCATIONS COLLOCATIONS
nice gesture symbolic gesture (=something you do to show people how you feel) grand gesture (=something you do to make people notice you) gesture of goodwill/friendship gesture of solidarity/support gesture of defiance make a gesture (towards somebody/something) (=do something to show that you have some respect for someone or something)
They decided it would be a nice gesture to send her a card.
Tearing up the price list was simply a symbolic gesture.
gesture of
As a gesture of goodwill, we have decided to waive the charges on this occasion.
gesture towards
The Queen has now made a gesture towards public opinion.
—gestural adjective
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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