speaking

[ spee-king ]

/ ˈspi kɪŋ /

|||

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR speaking ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the act, utterance, or discourse of a person who speaks.

speakings, literary works composed for recitation, as ancient bardic poetry; oral literature.

adjective

that speaks.

used in, suited to, or involving speaking or talking: the speaking voice.

of or relating to declamation.

giving information as if by speech: a speaking proof of a thing.

highly expressive: speaking eyes.

lifelike: a speaking likeness.

Nearby words

Idioms

not on speaking terms, not or no longer in a relationship of open, willing, or ready communication, as because of resentment or estrangement: They had a squabble during the holidays, and now they're not on speaking terms.

on speaking terms,

in a relationship close enough for or limited to friendly superficialities: I don't know the hosts well, but we are certainly on speaking terms.
in a relationship of open, willing, or ready communication: Now that the debt has been settled, I hope you and your partner are on speaking terms again.

Origin of speaking

Middle English word dating back to 1200–50; see origin at speak, -ing¹, -ing²

Related formsspeak·ing·ly, adverbspeak·ing·ness, nounnon·speak·ing, adjectivewell-speak·ing, adjective

speak

[ speek ]

/ spik /

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.

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.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR speak ON THESAURUS.COM

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

Examples from the Web for speaking

Speaking to a local radio station today Antonella Ramelli said the video gives her hope.
Jihadis Release New Year’s Eve Video of Italian Female Hostages|Jamie Dettmer, Barbie Latza Nadeau|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
“Mona Iraqi is responsible for 25 families losing their lives,” he said, speaking figuratively.
Sisi Is Persecuting, Prosecuting, and Publicly Shaming Egypt’s Gays|Bel Trew|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Speaking of the literature you love, the Bloomsbury writers crop up in your collection repeatedly.
Daphne Merkin on Lena Dunham, Book Criticism, and Self-Examination|Mindy Farabee|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Sometimes democracy and liberalism are about speaking up about the great issues, like a massive foreign war.
A Few Great Men Too Many: Aaron Sorkin Doesn’t Think You Can Handle the Truth|Arthur Chu|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Both the Republicans in Congress and the American-Cuban community in exile have been speaking out against the warming relations.
Up To Speed: The Cuba Embargo|Nina Strochlic|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But as his father was speaking again the student turned his serious face toward the pulpit.
Tess of the Storm Country|Grace Miller White
"Yes, yes; quite so," I said, speaking perhaps a trifle impatiently.
Those Times And These|Irvin S. Cobb
But, in speaking of his disposition, I have no intention whatever to give him a character for amiability.
Round-about Rambles in Lands of Fact and Fancy|Frank Richard Stockton
And in speaking of domination, I do not mean the domination of the tiger.
Tragic Sense Of Life|Miguel de Unamuno
After all, this was her aunt, and she believed she was speaking to her niece.
The Rebellion of Margaret|Geraldine Mockler

British Dictionary definitions for speaking

speaking

/ (ˈspiːkɪŋ) /

adjective

(prenominal) eloquent, impressive, or striking

able to speak
(in combination) able to speak a particular languageFrench-speaking

speak

/ (spiːk) /

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 speaking

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 speaking

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

speaking

noun

adjective

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Idioms

Origin of speaking

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

Origin of speak

Examples from the Web for speaking

speaking

adjective

speak

verb speaks, speaking, spoke or spoken

Word Origin for speak

speak

speak