dialogue

Or di·a·log

[dahy-uh-lawg, -log]

noun

1. conversation between two or more persons.

2. the conversation between characters in a novel, drama, etc.

3. an exchange of ideas or opinions on a particular issue, especially a political or religious issue, with a view to reaching an amicable agreement or settlement.

4. a literary work in the form of a conversation.

   a dialogue of Plato.

verb (used without object)

dialogued, dialoguing 

1. to carry on a dialogue; converse.

2. to discuss areas of disagreement frankly in order to resolve them.

verb (used with object)

dialogued, dialoguing 

1. to put into the form of a dialogue.

dialogue

/ ˈdaɪəˌlɒɡ, ˌdaɪəˈlɒdʒɪk /

noun

1. conversation between two or more people

2. an exchange of opinions on a particular subject; discussion

3. the lines spoken by characters in drama or fiction

4. a particular passage of conversation in a literary or dramatic work

5. a literary composition in the form of a dialogue

6. a political discussion between representatives of two nations or groups

verb

1. (tr) to put into the form of a dialogue

2. (intr) to take part in a dialogue; converse

Other Word Forms

• dialogic adjective
• dialoguer noun
• self-dialog noun
• self-dialogue noun
• underdialogue noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of dialogue¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English, from Old French dïalogue, Latin dialogus, from Greek diálogos; equivalent to dia- + -logue

Word History and Origins

Origin of dialogue¹

C13: from Old French dialoge, from Latin dialogus, from Greek dialogos, from dialegesthai to converse; see _dialect

Example Sentences

After a tour of her laboratory and MRI scanner, dialogue about the frontal cortex and the mysteries of synapses, she offered a simple declarative sentence: “We are our brains.”

From Los Angeles Times

“We can decide whether this moment makes us worse, or whether it makes us better,” he said, urging the country to choose dialogue over escalation.

From Salon

I wasn’t aiming to underscore or decorate his poetry but to be in dialogue with it, almost like a second voice.

From Los Angeles Times

In fact, hardly anyone on the right or the left is engaging in real civic dialogue, and it’s one of the reasons our democracy is now in crisis.

From Salon

A spokesperson for Boardmasters said the festival was "grateful for the constructive dialogue" and was committed to ensuring its events were "safe, inclusive and positive experiences for all", according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

From BBC

Related Words

• communication 
• conference 
• conversation 
• discourse 
• discussion 
• exchange