English dictionary



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English verb: speak

1. speak (communication) express in speech


SamplesShe talks a lot of nonsense.
This depressed patient does not verbalize.


Synonymsmouth, talk, utter, verbalise, verbalize


Pattern of useSomebody ----s.
Somebody ----s PP


Broader (hypernym)communicate, intercommunicate


Narrower (hyponym)babble, bark, bay, begin, blab, blabber, blubber, blubber out, blunder, blunder out, blurt, blurt out, bumble, cackle, chant, chatter, chatter, clack, deliver, drone, drone on, ejaculate, enthuse, falter, gabble, generalise, generalize, gibber, gulp, hiss, inflect, intone, jabber, jaw, lip off, maunder, maunder, modulate, mouth off, mumble, murmur, mussitate, mutter, open up, palaver, peep, phonate, piffle, prate, prattle, present, rabbit on, rant, rasp, rattle on, rave, read, shoot one's mouth off, shout, sibilate, sing, siss, sizz, slur, snap, snarl, snivel, speak in tongues, speak up, spout, stammer, stutter, swallow, talk about, talk of, tattle, tittle-tattle, tone, tone, troll, twaddle, verbalise, verbalize, vocalise, vocalize, whiff, whine, whisper, yack, yack away, yap away


Verb groupverbalise, verbalize

2. speak (communication) exchange thoughts; talk with


SamplesWe often talk business.
Actions talk louder than words.


Synonymstalk


Pattern of useSomething ----s.
Somebody ----s.
Something is ----ing PP.
Somebody ----s PP.
Somebody ----s to somebody


Broader (hypernym)communicate, intercommunicate


Narrower (hyponym)butterfly, carry on, chat up, cheek, continue, converse, coquet, coquette, dally, discourse, discourse, dish the dirt, dissertate, dogmatise, dogmatize, flirt, go on, gossip, hold forth, level, mash, monologuise, monologuize, orate, philander, pontificate, proceed, rap, romance, soliloquise, soliloquize, spiel, talk down, talk turkey

3. speak (communication) use language


SamplesThe baby talks already.
The prisoner won't speak.
They speak a strange dialect.


ExamplesSam and Sue speak


Synonymstalk


Pattern of useSomebody ----s.
Somebody ----s something


Broader (hypernym)communicate, intercommunicate


Narrower (hyponym)run on, slang, smatter

4. speak (communication) give a speech to


SamplesThe chairman addressed the board of trustees.


Synonymsaddress


Pattern of useSomebody ----s.
Somebody ----s somebody


Narrower (hyponym)blaze away, harangue, keynote, memorialise, memorialize


Entailspeak, talk

5. speak (perception) make a characteristic or natural sound


SamplesThe drums spoke.


Pattern of useSomething ----s


Broader (hypernym)sound









Based on WordNet 3.0 copyright © Princeton University.
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