speak

/spiːk/

verb 12
noun 4
forms 12
phrases 10

verb12

•
to say words with the voice, so that others can hear
- I was so surprised I couldn't speak.
- You're speaking too fast.
•
To utter.
- I was so surprised that I couldn't speak a word.
•
Of a bird, to be able to vocally reproduce words or phrases from a human language.
- Miles tremblingly confessed that it had, but to no purpose; a parrot being able to speak better in three weeks than a brazen head. — 1936
•
To be able to communicate in a language.
- He speaks Mandarin fluently.
•
To be able to communicate in the manner of specialists in a field.
- Even those who did 'speak computer' did so sometimes in a less than fluent way which required a jump to be made from a press-the-right-button stage to having the confidence to experiment. — 1998
•
To have a conversation.
- It's been ages since we've spoken.
•
To deliver a message to a group; to deliver a speech.
- This evening I shall speak on the topic of correct English usage.
•
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.
•
(informal, humorous) 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++?
•
To communicate (some fact or feeling); to bespeak, to indicate.
- Their behaviour to each other speaks the most cordial confidence and happiness. — 1785
•
To produce a sound; to sound.
- Make all our trumpets speak. — 1606
•
(no longer used) To address; to accost; to speak to.
- [He will] thee in hope; he will speak thee fair. — 1611

noun4

•
Language, jargon, or terminology used uniquely in a particular environment or group.
- corporate speak; IT speak
Speech, conversation.
•
(informal) Clipping of speaker point.
- We will deduct speaks for hesitation.
(old-fashioned) a low class bar, a speakeasy.

forms

speaked · spake · spoke · spakest · spokest · spoken · speaking · spaketh · speaketh · speaks · spoketh · speakest

Phrases with speak