Definition of "gesticulation"

gesticulation

/dʒɛˌstɪkjəˈleɪʃən/

noun
countable and uncountable, plural gesticulations
1. The act of gesticulating, or making gestures to aid expression of thoughts, sentiments or passion.
2. A gesture; a motion of the body or limbs when speaking, or in representing action or passion, and enforcing arguments and sentiments.
  Quotations
  In the eagerness of his gesticulations, first he knocked off my hat, then he knocked off Lessingham’s, then his own, then all three together […]
  1897, Richard Marsh, The Beetle
  It is commonly supposed that they communicated by sounds and tentacular gesticulations; this is asserted, for instance, in the able but hastily compiled pamphlet (written evidently by someone not an eye-witness of Martian actions) to which I have already alluded, and which, so far, has been the chief source of information concerning them.
  1898, H.G. Wells, The War of the Worlds, London: William Heinemann
  The breeze had died away and the tree was now quite motionless save when William's statements required forcible gesticulations, which made it sway in a gentle nodding manner as though it were confirming every word the old sage uttered.
  1929, Robert Dean Frisbee, The Book of Puka-Puka, Eland, published 2019, page 193
3. (dated) An odd or fanciful motion.