Entry Word: speech

Function: noun

Meaning: 1 a usually formal discourse delivered to an audience <the guest of honor gave a short speech in appreciation of the award>

Synonyms address, declamation, harangue, oration, talk

Related Words diatribe, rant, tirade; eulogy, panegyric, tribute; keynote address, lecture; homily, sermon; monologue, soliloquy; pitch, presentation, spiel

2 the stock of words, pronunciation, and grammar used by a people as their basic means of communication <wanting to develop a writing system for his people, Sequoya created a system of 86 symbols representing all the syllables of Cherokee speech> — see language 1