text Pronunciation Key (tkst) n. 1. 1. The original words of something written or printed, as opposed to a paraphrase, translation, revision, or condensation. 2. The words of a speech appearing in print. 3. Words, as of a libretto, that are set to music in a composition. 4. Words treated as data by a computer. 2. The body of a printed work as distinct from headings and illustrative matter on a page or from front and back matter in a book. 3. One of the editions or forms of a written work: After examining all three manuscripts, he published a new text of the poem. 4. Something, such as a literary work or other cultural product, regarded as an object of critical analysis. 5. A passage from the Scriptures or another authoritative source chosen for the subject of a discourse or cited for support in argument. 6. A passage from a written work used as the starting point of a discussion. 7. A subject; a topic. 8. A textbook. 9. Something that pops up on the MostWanted, but really shouldn't