a word that describes a person or thing, for example big, red and clever in a big house, red wine and a clever idea > adjectival /adʒɪkˈtʌɪvəl/ adj.: an adjectival phrase adjectivally /adʒɪkˈtʌɪvəli/ adv.: in ‘bread knife’, the word ‘bread’ is used adjectivally