speak

[speek]

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verb (used without object), spoke or (Archaic) spake; spo·ken or (Archaic) spoke; speak·ing.

to utter words or articulate sounds with the ordinary voice; talk: He was too ill to speak.

to communicate vocally; mention: to speak to a person about various matters.

to converse: She spoke with him for an hour.

to deliver an address, discourse, etc.: to speak at a meeting.

to make a statement in written or printed words.

to communicate, signify, or disclose by any means; convey significance.

Phonetics. to produce sounds or audible sequences of individual or concatenated sounds of a language, especially through phonation, amplification, and resonance, and through any of a variety of articulatory processes.

(of a computer) to express data or other information audibly by means of an audio response unit.

to emit a sound, as a musical instrument; make a noise or report.

Chiefly British. (of dogs) to bark when ordered.

Fox Hunting. (of a hound or pack) to bay on finding a scent.

verb (used with object), spoke or (Archaic) spake; spo·ken or (Archaic) spoke; speak·ing.

to utter vocally and articulately: to speak words of praise.

to express or make known with the voice: to speak the truth.

to declare in writing or printing, or by any means of communication.

to make known, indicate, or reveal.

to use, or be able to use, in oral utterance, as a language: to speak French.

(of a computer) to express or make known (data, prompts, etc.) by means of an audio response unit.

Nautical. to communicate with (a passing vessel) at sea, as by voice or signal: We spoke a whaler on the fourth day at sea.

Archaic. to speak to or with.

Verb Phrases

speak for,

to intercede for or recommend; speak in behalf of.
to express or articulate the views of; represent.
to choose or prefer; have reserved for oneself: This item is already spoken for.

speak out, to express one's opinion openly and unreservedly: He was not afraid to speak out when it was something he believed in strongly.

Nearby words

Idioms

so to speak, to use a manner of speaking; figuratively speaking: We still don't have our heads above water, so to speak.

speak by the book, to say with great authority or precision: I can't speak by the book, but I know this is wrong.

speak well for, to be an indication or reflection of (something commendable); testify admirably to: Her manners speak well for her upbringing.

to speak of, worth mentioning: The country has no mineral resources to speak of.

Origin of speak

before 900; Middle English speken, Old English specan, variant of sprecan; cognate with German sprechen (Old High German sprehhan; compare variant spehhan)

SYNONYMS FOR speak

1. Speak, converse, talk mean to make vocal sounds, usually for purposes of communication. To speak often implies conveying information and may apply to anything from an informal remark to a scholarly presentation to a formal address: to speak sharply; to speak before Congress. To converse is to exchange ideas with someone by speaking: to converse with a friend. To talk is a close synonym for to speak but usually refers to less formal situations: to talk about the weather; to talk with a friend. 12. pronounce, articulate. 13. say. 15. disclose.

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Related formsspeak·a·ble, adjectivespeak·a·ble·ness, nounspeak·a·bly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for speak for

speak for

verb (intr, preposition)

to speak as a representative of (other people)

speak for itself to be so evident that no further comment is necessary

speak for yourself informal (used as an imperative) do not presume that other people agree with you

speak

verb speaks, speaking, spoke or spoken

to make (verbal utterances); utter (words)

to communicate or express (something) in or as if in wordsI speak the truth

(intr) to deliver a speech, discourse, etc

(tr) to know how to talk in (a language or dialect)he does not speak German

(intr) to make a characteristic soundthe clock spoke

(intr) (of dogs, esp hounds used in hunting) to give tongue; bark

(tr) nautical to hail and converse or communicate with (another vessel) at sea

(intr) (of a musical instrument) to produce a sound

(intr foll by for) to be a representative or advocate (of)he speaks for all the members

on speaking terms on good terms; friendly

so to speak in a manner of speaking; as it were

speak one's mind to express one's opinions frankly and plainly

to speak of of a significant or worthwhile naturewe have had no support to speak of

See also speak for, speak out, speak to, speak up

Derived Formsspeakable, adjective

Word Origin for speak

Old English specan; related to Old High German spehhan, Middle High German spechten to gossip, Middle Dutch speken; see speech

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for speak for

speak

Old English specan, variant of sprecan "to speak" (class V strong verb; past tense spræc, past participle sprecen), from Proto-Germanic *sprekanan (cf. Old Saxon sprecan, Old Frisian spreka, Middle Dutch spreken, Old High German sprehhan, German sprechen "to speak," Old Norse spraki "rumor, report"), cognate with Latin spargere "to strew" (speech as a "scattering" of words; see sparse).

The -r- began to drop out in Late West Saxon and was gone by mid-12c., perhaps from influence of Danish spage "crackle," in a slang sense of "speak" (cf. crack in slang senses having to do with speech, e.g. wisecrack, cracker, all it's cracked up to be). Rare variant forms without -r- also are found in Middle Dutch (speken) and Old High German (spehhan).

Not the primary word for "to speak" in Old English (the "Beowulf" author prefers maþelian, from mæþel "assembly, council," from root of metan "to meet;" cf. Greek agoreuo "to speak," originally "speak in the assembly," from agora "assembly").

Idioms and Phrases with speak for

speak for

Intercede for, recommend, as in He spoke for the young applicant, commending her honesty. [c. 1300]

Express the views of, as in I can't speak for my husband but I'd love to accept, or I don't care what Harry thinks—Speak for yourself, Joe. [c. 1300]

speak for itself. Be significant or self-evident, as in They haven't called us in months, and that speaks for itself. [Second half of 1700s]

spoken for. Ordered, engaged, or reserved, as in This lot of rugs is already spoken for, or Is this dance spoken for? This usage comes from the older verb, bespeak, meaning “to order.” [Late 1600s]

speak

In addition to the idioms beginning with speak

speak down to
speak for
speak of the devil
speak one's mind
speak one's piece
speak out
speak out of turn
speak the same language
speak too soon
speak up
speak volumes

also see:

actions speak louder than words
in a manner of speaking
nothing to speak of
not to mention (speak of)
on speaking terms
so to speak
to speak of

speak

verb (used without object), spoke or (Archaic) spake; spo·ken or (Archaic) spoke; speak·ing.

verb (used with object), spoke or (Archaic) spake; spo·ken or (Archaic) spoke; speak·ing.

Verb Phrases

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RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Idioms

Origin of speak

speak for

verb (intr, preposition)

speak

verb speaks, speaking, spoke or spoken

Word Origin for speak

speak

speak for

speak