-
Speak (verb)
To communicate with one’s voice, to say words out loud.
“I was so surprised I couldn’t speak.”
“You’re speaking too fast.”
-
Speak (verb)
To have a conversation.
“It’s been ages since we’ve spoken.”
-
Speak (verb)
To communicate or converse by some means other than orally, such as writing or facial expressions.
“He spoke of it in his diary.”
“Speak to me only with your eyes.”
“Actions speak louder than words.”
-
Speak (verb)
To deliver a message to a group; to deliver a speech.
“This evening I shall speak on the topic of correct English usage.”
-
Speak (verb)
To be able to communicate in a language.
“He speaks Mandarin fluently.”
-
Speak (verb)
To utter.
“I was so surprised that I couldn’t speak a word.”
-
Speak (verb)
To communicate (some fact or feeling); to bespeak, to indicate.
-
Speak (verb)
To understand (as though it were a language).
“Sorry, I don’t speak idiot.”
“So you can program in C. But do you speak C++?”
-
Speak (verb)
To produce a sound; to sound.
-
Speak (verb)
To address; to accost; to speak to.
-
Speak (noun)
language, jargon, or terminology used uniquely in a particular environment or group.
“Corporate speak; IT speak.”
-
Speak (noun)
Speach, conversation.
-
Speak (noun)
a low class bar, a speakeasy.
-
Talk (verb)
To communicate, usually by means of speech.
“Although I don’t speak Chinese I managed to talk with the villagers using signs and gestures.”
“They sat down to talk business.”
“We talk French sometimes.”
-
Talk (verb)
To discuss.
“They sat down to talk business.”
“We’re not talking rocket science here: it should be easy.”
-
Talk (verb)
To confess, especially implicating others.
“Suppose he talks?”
“She can be relied upon not to talk.”
“They tried to make me talk.”
-
Talk (verb)
To criticize someone for something of which one is guilty oneself.
“I am not the one to talk.”
“She is a fine one to talk.”
“You should talk.”
“Look who’s talking.”
-
Talk (verb)
To gossip; to create scandal.
“People will talk.”
“Aren’t you afraid the neighbours will talk?”
-
Talk (verb)
To influence someone to express something, especially a particular stance or viewpoint or in a particular manner.
“You’re only sticking up for her because you like her; that’s your penis talking.”
“That’s not like you at all, Jared. The drugs are talking. Snap out of it!”
-
Talk (noun)
A conversation or discussion; usually serious, but informal.
“We need to have a talk about your homework.”
-
Talk (noun)
A lecture.
“There is a talk on w|Shakespeare tonight.”
-
Talk (noun)
; often qualified by a following of}} A major topic of social discussion.
“She is the talk of the day.”
“The musical is the talk of the town.”
-
Talk (noun)
}} A customary conversation by parent(s) or guardian(s) with their (often teenaged) child about a reality of life; in particular:
-
Talk (noun)
A customary conversation in which parent(s) explain sexual intercourse to their child.
“Have you had the talk with Jay yet?”
-
Talk (noun)
}} Empty boasting, promises or claims.
“The party leader’s speech was all talk.”
-
Talk (noun)
Meeting to discuss a particular matter.
“The leaders of the G8 nations are currently in talks over nuclear weapons.”
-
Speak (verb)
say something in order to convey information or to express a feeling
“in his agitation he was unable to speak”
“she refused to speak about the incident”
-
Speak (verb)
have a conversation
“last time we spoke, you told me you couldn’t do the job”
“I’ll speak to him if he rings up”
-
Speak (verb)
utter (a word, message, etc.)
“patients copy words spoken by the therapist”
-
Speak (verb)
communicate in or be able to communicate in (a specified language)
“my mother spoke Russian”
-
Speak (verb)
make a speech or contribute to a debate
“twenty thousand people attended to hear him speak”
-
Speak (verb)
express the views or position of (another)
“he claimed to speak for the majority of local people”
-
Speak (verb)
convey one’s views or position indirectly
“speaking through his solicitor, he refused to join the debate”
-
Speak (verb)
answer (a question) or address (an issue or problem)
“we should be disappointed if the report did not speak to the issue of literacy”
-
Speak (verb)
mention or discuss in speech or writing
“the books speak of betrayal”
-
Speak (verb)
talk to in order to reprove or advise
“she tried to speak to Seb about his drinking”
-
Speak (verb)
talk to in order to give or obtain information
“he had spoken to the police”
-
Speak (verb)
discuss or comment on formally
“the Church wants to speak to real issues”
-
Speak (verb)
appeal or relate to
“the story spoke to him directly”
-
Speak (verb)
(of behaviour, an object, etc.) serve as evidence for something
“his frame spoke tiredness”
“everything in the house spoke of hard times and neglect”
-
Speak (verb)
show (someone or something) to be in a particular state or to possess a certain quality
“she had seen nothing that spoke him of immoral habits”
-
Speak (verb)
(of a musical instrument or other object) make a sound when functioning
“insufficient air circulates for the pipes to speak”
“the gun spoke again”
-
Speak (verb)
(of a hound) bark.
-
Talk (verb)
speak in order to give information or express ideas or feelings; converse or communicate by spoken words
“the two men talked”
“you’re talking rubbish”
“it was no use talking to Anthony”
“we’d sit and talk about jazz”
-
Talk (verb)
have the power of speech
“he can talk as well as you or I can”
-
Talk (verb)
discuss personal or intimate feelings
“we need to talk, Maggie”
-
Talk (verb)
persuade or cause (someone) to do something by talking
“keep on walking and talk your way out of it”
-
Talk (verb)
used to emphasize the seriousness, importance, or extent of the thing one is discussing
“we’re talking big money”
-
Talk (verb)
reveal secret or confidential information
“dead men can’t talk”
-
Talk (verb)
gossip
“you’ll have the whole school talking”
-
Talk (verb)
have formal dealings or discussions; negotiate
“they won’t talk to the regime that killed their families”
-
Talk (verb)
use (a particular language) in speech
“we were talking German”
-
Talk (noun)
communication by spoken words; conversation or discussion
“there was a slight but noticeable lull in the talk”
-
Talk (noun)
a period of conversation or discussion, especially a relatively serious one
“my mother had a talk with Louis”
-
Talk (noun)
rumour, gossip, or speculation
“there is talk of an armistice”
-
Talk (noun)
empty promises or boasting
“he’s all talk”
-
Talk (noun)
a current subject of widespread gossip or speculation in (a particular place)
“within days I was the talk of the town”
-
Talk (noun)
formal discussions or negotiations over a period
“peace talks”
-
Talk (noun)
an informal address or lecture
“a thirty-minute illustrated talk”
“a talk on a day in the life of an actor”